Protect Kids Online

We often provide safety information about specific apps or functions, but maybe you are looking for more general safety settings across the board.  Check out this episode to hear about the types of parental monitoring and safety settings that are built in to both iPhones and Android phones to help!

There's now information to suggest that our pets get a little bummed out when we ignore them in lieu of screen time.  If we think about it, this isn't surprising - so let's remember to consider how this impacts our children, our loved ones, and ourselves as well.  Set those screen time limits, and stick to them!!

Have you ever wondered how you can help with keeping children safe online?  If you are a parent or guardian, check out the new interact program - an interactive, online e-course designed to teach basic internet safety topics to parents and caregivers together with their child(ren).  The 30 minute module contains information, resources, and interactive scenarios and activities intended to begin and...

In this episode, Dana and Carl download Tik Tok.  Carl gets distracted by the many features and users, and shows us how easy it is for our kids to get caught up in hours of screen time on some of these apps.  This has become a very popular app - check out this episode to learn about what it is, different features that are involved, and some of the safety aspects to be aware of when talking to your...

Why would we talk about Pinterest?  Oh wait...we get Cybertips from Pinterest (and everywhere else).  This is the perfect example of why we can't, as safety guardians, focus on only the apps that get the "bad rap".  Carl and Dana talk about private versus public boards, following and friends, message functions, and more!

It's been a while since we discussed sextortion on the podcast, and it's a dangerous "trend" we are seeing more of.  Listen as Carl and Dana talk about results of a survey done by Thorn, tips to remember when talking with your kids about his, and resources & information to learn more or get help.

In episode 67, Dana & Carl spend some time reminiscing about getting started in technology. It's a great reminder for us as guardians - our kids are doing the same things we did as kids, but the audience is potentially bigger and tech is much more common now. It's something to consider as you set tech rules in your household, and as you are talking with your kids about their online a...

In episode 66, Dana introduces Carl to an initial study she read about regarding screens in the classroom, and the results on students' short-term and long-term recollection of information.  What do you think the results of the study were? Listen and find out! 

This is one of the most common questions that we get involving online safety: "What apps should I look out for?" It's an understandable question, but Dana & Carl chat in this episode about why it's more important to talk with kids about how they are using their apps than to veto specific apps based on how others have used them. In the end, remember - you decide what the bes...

It's October, and there is more going on than Halloween! It's Internet Safety month and once again Dana checks in with Chad from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to see what exciting offerings DPI will have this year on their website! Remember Internet Safety should be observed more than just one month a year! If you have any questions or concerns let us know at prote...

AI isn't just for sci-fi movies anymore! In Episode 63, Carl and Dana start conversing online with an AI Chatbot to see how the conversation progressed. It might seem intimidating, but the same rules apply: not oversharing, understanding that you don't know what's on the other side of the screen, and how to get out of conversations when things seem inappropriate or uncomfortable. St...

With schools starting all over again, photo's will be uploading everywhere, and it's been a while since we've chatted about Instagram, as it continues to grow in popularity. Carl and Dana are joined in this episode by an avid user of Instagram to help explain some of the workings of the app to Carl, a beginner, and Dana, who is totally new to Instagram. They also talk about some of...

*CLICK* Yep, my child is 13. But are they really? Carl and Dana take some time in this episode to talk about the age requirements in some of those more popular apps. More importantly, they talk about why those age limits are in place. There's some great food for thought here as you help your child get set up with their first accounts on social media or apps.

As we wind down the summer (I know - don't say it out loud!), Dana and Carl chat about some security features to keep in mind as you might be traveling - with or without your kids. Things to consider include locking devices and apps, the risks that come with free wifi, and solutions to keep in mind. These are great ways to help set a good example for your kids surrounding tech security, and i...

Are your teens suffering from "summer brain"? in this episode, Carl and Dana chat over a few educational apps or brain game apps to help with spatial or other skills! If you have a teen that is a mind-less scroll-er, these (or apps like them) might be a few good options to consider encouraging. Listen to Carl check out a few of the brain games, while Dana shares a bit of information abou...

We're all in this together! Dana and Carl share a few tips that they've gotten from parents in the course of providing safety information. They also talk about things haven't worked; maybe they'll spark new ideas that DO work! Do you have things that have or haven't worked in talking to your kids or monitoring their devices for safety? Share them with Dana and Carl at www....

In this episode, Dana & Carl are joined by Ben, a Special Agent in Charge specializing in Human Trafficking investigations. Ben shares information on what human trafficking is and how children can get tricked into it, red flags to watch out for in real life and online, and resources for more information or how to report.

In this episode Carl and Dana take on a new role, reading an example of a previous online enticement chat reported to the CyberTipline. They try to keep it light, but it provides a serious and great example of how quickly online chat can get sexual, how peer pressure is involved, and what some basic grooming tactics look like.

This trending app is surpassing Twitter and Pinterest in downloads - It's a location based anonymous messaging app, intended for anonymous compliments, feedback, and connections. Carl and Dana talk about the good and the bad of anonymous messaging apps, and things that you might want to consider including in your safety discussions with your kids regarding any anonymous messaging app in which...

Today, Carl and Dana talk about some of the social media challenges that have been trending in past months, including the Tide Pod Challenge, 3 AM Challenge, the Condom Challenge, and more. They talk about the incredible amount of peer pressure kids are subject to, and the importance of not assuming that kids can ignore the pressure to try some of these challenges, no matter how risky or dangerous...

In this episode, Carl & Dana take a look at the chat app Anti-Chat, and Carl does another live demo chat to show how easy it is for strangers to chat online with our kids and how quickly the conversations can take an inappropriate turn. Apps and sites that are "anonymous" can be appealing to teens; hear about the potential risks, as well as options for actions to take if the conversa...

Dana and Carl reconnect with WI Dept. of Instruction to hear about updates on their online safety resources. Chad shares a reminder about already created resources for educators, as well as safety information for students and families, that can be found at https://dpi.wi.gov/internet-safety

In this episode, Carl and Dana have fun testing out the Marco Polo app. They try setting up accounts, chatting with each other, and determine where the biggest risks and safety considerations might be. Bonus fun: Carl really enjoys sharing the audio from some of the chats they tested out!

Today, on our 50th episode, Carl and Dana talk about different things to think about when getting your child their own email address, including usernames, scams, and safety considerations to chat about with your child. They also talk about kids' school emails and safety information.

In this episode, Carl and Dana talk about how these crimes impact students and children-especially through sextortion, revenge porn, online grooming, and cyberstalking/cyberbullying. Dana shares some stats on how many WI ICAC cases from 2017 involved kids' sexts, as well as some surprising statistics on companies that report child exploitation online.