Digital Safety
- heather6447
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
The digital world can feel scary.
Everywhere we look we hear about online scammers, deepfake images and videos, exploiters using social media platforms to lure people in, younger and younger children being exposed to pornography, cyberbullying…the list goes on and on.
It can feel paralyzing and defeating. We live in a digital world, the idea of living without technology feels impossible. So, what can we do?
Resources to empower you to safely navigate the digital world.
Thankfully you are not alone in your feelings and MANY organizations and companies recognize this issue and have chosen to do something about it!
We love THIS resource from Shared Hope that empowers us with four rules for the Digital World.
Take a look below at these other websites and apps, and suggest some that have helped you too in the comments section below!
Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Roblox, Meta Virtual Reality…Parent Guides for these and more can be found here. Connect Safely also has many other resources to empower you and the youth in your life.
Written for tweens, teens, parents, educators, and law enforcement, these tip sheets offer guidance on navigating digital safety with titles such as: “Cyberbullying Unplugged” or “You Sent a Sext, Now What?” These tip sheets are found on the greater website of NetSmartz (created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) which has a plethora of other information for you to browse.
We can put all the safety nets up, but without real conversations with the youth in our lives you might not get to the heart of the matter. When we use parental controls youth might feel frustrated, resentful and angry. Not that a conversation will magically make the feelings change, but it WILL help the youth in your life to understand that there ARE dangers out there, we CARE about them and have their SAFETY in mind. Conversations will also help empower youth to hopefully make smart choices for themselves if they are ever put in a situation where they are debating an unsafe choice online.
THORN is an incredible organization that seeks to help protect childhood joy. They created these discussion guides along with many other resources.
NoFILTR is on a mission to empower youth to co-design the future of digital safety. This is a website created through THORN that is led by youth, for youth. You can find things such as “Peer to Peer Advice” and a quiz about “Online Grooming.” Invite the youth in your life to look through this website!
Shared Hope International created a video series that covers topics such as vulnerabilities and grooming, warning signs and action steps, and sexting. Shared Hope also has many different webinars, guides and information in their “Internet Safety Toolkit.”
We have covered many different aspects of Digital Safety in our podcasts. Check them out to hear Alice and the Survival Council members share their wisdom and advice.
The STOP APP can be downloaded by anyone, anywhere in the world who has access to a smartphone. The app is anonymous, confidential and secure – it is available in 15 languages and allows you to submit suspicious activity quickly by sending text based messages and uploading photos and videos.
One of the most advanced and reliable personal safety apps in the world. bSafe can stop incidents from happening and reduce crime, violence, and assaults.
No matter your age, self-development and self-actualization are lifelong journeys. 'Self-Esteem & Confidence' is here to help you overcome life's hurdles, heal past traumas, and enhance your daily life for a happier, more successful you. Through self-care, self-love, and self-improvement, you can become the best version of yourself.
Findmykids was created especially for caring parents.
Findmykids is designed with your child’s safety in mind. The app’s unique family safety features ensure you can easily keep in contact with your child when they aren’t with you or when they aren’t responding to you on their device.
Built for them, and for you.
Both you and your kids download the Greenlight app — with tailored experiences. They check off chores, you automate allowance. They spend wisely, you set flexible controls. They build healthy financial habits, and you cheer them on.
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