Cyber Safety
Protecting Teens in the digital World
With the wide range of access granted by the World Wide Web, exposure to inappropriate material and connection with unknown others put teens at risk, on or off-line. Digital influences and pressures can follow teens of the screen, affecting their behavior, values, and their view of self.
​While the advancements of technology seem overwhelming, and the risks never-ending, we find that there are still fundamental actions that parents can implement to greatly increase their ability to keep their children safe online.
Check out our resources here.
Step One:Talk About it.
Talk about internet safety and boundaries in your home. Building a bridge of healthy communication early is important so that when big things happen in your child’s life, they will go to you first. Do whatever it takes to make sure your child can come to you to discuss anything, and work on your "nothing can shock me" face!
Step two: Set Boundaries & Rules.
Though we know some of our teens are clever and can find their ways around our boundaries and blockades, it is important to set rules for internet use in your household. Be willing to have honest conversations about these rules, why they exist and what they protect us from, shows your child that the risks are real and that you take them seriously. ​​
Here are some examples of household rules we would recommend:
Step three:BE alert.
Research shows that 90% of predators are people your children already know, so be aware of who your children are with at all times and who they are talking to. If they don't want to be around a particular person, don't force them and don't ignore any "red flags" they may show.
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You can also get into the habit of doing random "spot checks" of internet history, phone apps, texts and calls to casually monitor your child's online activity, and especially who your child is interacting with.
Resources
Education & Information
Common Sense Media.com
Has a tab for parent tips and FAQs where they break down everything from what to do if your child sees pornography to guides for apps like Tik Tok, Discord, and more.
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​Connect Safely.org
A nonprofit dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy, and security, and offers a variety of resources.
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Enough.org
A nonprofit that provides education about the dangers of Internet pornography, sexual predators and traffickers, other dangers, and advance solutions.
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Netsmartz.org
The website for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, has a resource page specific to parents and guardians.
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Educate Empower Kids.org
Provides resources to parents and educators over digital citizenship, media literacy, and healthy sexuality, and the dangers of online pornography.
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Fight the New Drug.Com
Posts blogs and articles about the dangers on online sexual content, a great resource for learning more about pornography addiction and its ties to human trafficking and other kinds of exploitation.​
Filtering & Monitoring
Apps
​Bark
An app that monitors texts, social media accounts, photos, videos, and web browsing, flagging suspicious/harmful activity like cyberbullying, adult content, sexual predators, profanity, suicidal ideation, threats of violence, and more.
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Qustodio
An app that applies content filters, monitors app use, controls screen time, monitors call/text, and enables location sharing.
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Circle
An app and a router that acts as a filter for internet users in a household and alerts administrators (parents) about any inappropriate internet use by anyone on the home Wi-Fi network.​ ​
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Devices
Gabb
A company that designs phones and other personal devices specifically for children and teens. It restricts internet browsing, social media, and app downloading, and can pair with the parent's device (through the Gabb app) to allow parents to set controls, see the location, and monitor talk and text.
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Native Apple/Google Parental Controls
Comes with device or can be downloaded easily to devices. Can be used to filter content, require permission to download app, and limit screen time. ​
Intervention & Reporting
If you or your child has witnessed or experienced cyber crimes (child pornography, non-consensual sexual image sharing, coercion/ blackmail), you can make a report using these platforms.
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The South-West Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force
Technology related offenses involving minors as victims | SWMO Cyber Crimes Task Force
Take It Down/The NCMEC
Remove nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit images of minors from the internet. | Take It Down​​
If you are experiencing an emergency, or someone is in immediate danger, please contact 911.