As summer begins, it’s a good time to reacquaint ourselves with the basics of internet safety. Long gone are the days of students carrying overcrowded bags filled with heavy textbooks. Kids and teachers rely heavily on devices for classroom learning and homework. The internet is essential for education, communication, and entertainment. But as the kids get ready to ditch the bookbag for a few months, summer break equals more screen time, which leads to a greater potential for online threats.

Why Internet Safety Matters More Than Ever

Cyberbullying is a core threat to today’s youth. It’s when kids experience harassment through texts, social media, and gaming platforms. The percentage of adolescents who admitted to cyberbullying others jumped from historical rates of 5%-7% to 16.1% in recent years. Another alarming threat is online predators, where adults exploit anonymity to target children. These online threats have real-world consequences that can have a long-term impact on kids’ mental health and overall well-being.

National Internet Safety Month is observed every June to help raise awareness and promote education about digital risks, enhance cybersecurity, and protect youth online. Established by the U.S. Senate in 2005, it highlights three key focus areas: internet safety starts with the basics, and families play a crucial role.

Brushing up on Good Digital Hygiene

Daily routines are crucial to how children learn and become independent. From an early age, brushing teeth, getting dressed, and making the bed were the foundation of small everyday habits we took with us into adulthood. The same principle can apply to our online routines, too. In the digital world, small internet safety habits can yield big protection. Many cyber risks stem from simple, preventable mistakes.

Parental controls should support, not substitute, active parenting. Use tools like content filters and limit location sharing to a small, trusted group, but aim for a balanced approach. Over-monitoring can backfire, so focus on guiding rather than policing. It’s equally important to prepare kids for real-world scenarios by reinforcing safe habits and clear responses to risks.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.