Today (Tuesday, February 11, 2020) is #SaferInternetDay! This is a world-wide effort to keep kids safe online while they take advantage of all the Internet has to offer. The umbrella platform for this can be found at https://www.saferinternetday.org/. Once you arrive at this page, if you want to see what an individual country is doing to help protect children, you simply go HERE.

For the United States, information about a safer Internet for kids can be found at https://www.connectsafely.org/. On this page, you’ll find some great guides for parents and grandparents on how to keep your kids safe.

Everyday, I get emails from the FBI. Often, these emails contain articles about online sexual predators. I’m just stunned at the reports of people who are pillars in a community yet they engage in online illegal and sickening activity regarding children.

Beyond the sexual activity that can happen on the Net, there’s also the bullying which often happens on Social Media sites. Having been on the receiving end of bullying in my middle school years, I get how bullied kids must feel. Of course, in the old days, it might be just one school whereas, today, it can be bullying from all corners of the world.

Now, before you suggest that we turn off the Internet and take smartphones and tablets away from our kids, remember that there are tons of positive things about the Net. As I’ve said in my blog before, I would have aced History class in school if we had the Internet back then. There are so many good things about the online experience for all of us, it’s a question of using the Net in a safer manner. Also, for parents and grandparents, it’s a case of being informed and paying attention to what the kids are doing.

Take a few minutes and visit the sites I’ve linked to in the opening paragraphs. Peruse through the guides such as “A Parent’s Guide to Cyberbullying.” Educate yourself about your kids being safe online – not just today because it’s Safer Internet Day, but every day.