Attorney General Josh Stein today shared tips to help families encourage children to stay safe online over the summer. The average eight- to 12-year-old spends between four and six hours online each day, while teenagers spend up to nine hours. While young people across the state enjoy time off from school, they may find themselves online for longer periods.
“Summer break is here for many kids across North Carolina, and they may end up spending more time on screens,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “My office is working hard to protect our young people wherever they are – including online – but it’s important for families to make sure the kids they love know how to stay safe and identify warning signs on the internet.”
Here are tips to help families stay safe this summer and beyond:
Youth online safety is a top priority for Attorney General Stein. Research has linked the increased amount of time on social media platforms to mental health damage and increased risk of self-harm and suicide. Social media can also expose children to content that depicts abuse and disturbing sexual images, which can warp their understanding of healthy and safe relationships.
Last year, Attorney General Stein and 41 other bipartisan attorneys general sued Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, for allegedly designing their social media platforms to hook children and teenagers and deceiving the public by claiming that these platforms were safe and suitable for young users. He is also investigating TikTok.
To learn more about our office’s work on protecting kids online visit www.ncdoj.gov/internet-safety.