Attorney General Josh Kaul is emphasizing the importance of online safety discussions between parents and children during Keep Your Kids Safe Online Month. He highlights the necessity for these conversations to be frequent and initiated early.
"Talking to kids about online safety is a critical part of parenting in 2024," said Attorney General Josh Kaul. "We must ensure that when kids are online, they’re able to navigate the internet safely."
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force advises parents to discuss potential online dangers with their children. This includes maintaining an open dialogue about websites visited, people communicated with, information shared, and any uncomfortable situations encountered.
Resources such as NetSmartz from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offer tip sheets, videos, and activities designed to educate children on online safety risks. These resources are accessible at no cost.
For younger children, NCMEC's Into the Cloud program provides animated videos based on CyberTip reports to introduce online safety topics in an engaging manner. The program aims to facilitate discussions between parents and young children about internet safety.
As children grow older, it is important for these conversations to evolve. Engaging teens by asking them about their online interests or apps can lead to discussions on potential risks and appropriate responses.
The Wisconsin ICAC Task Force collaborates with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on interact!, a course aimed at fostering basic online safety discussions at home. The course includes modules lasting 15-45 minutes each, encouraging reflection on technology use and setting examples for children.
Additionally, the Protect Kids Online podcast offers insights into combating child exploitation and sextortion, understanding internet safety laws, cyberbullying prevention, and more. Episodes are available through the DOJ website.
Parents can subscribe to receive updates via email by contacting icac@doj.state.wi.us or view newsletters through the Wisconsin Department of Justice website.
Reports of potential child exploitation can be made through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website or hotline. Further internet safety tips are available on the ICAC Task Force page.