How Dads Can Empower Kids to be Internet Safe

We know the term cyberbullying. So do our kids. But what about cyberstalking and sextortion? Not so much. Yet, these are serious online threats putting more kids at risk than most of us realize. What do we need to know to empower kids to be internet safe? 

In this episode I speak with Matt Richardson, awesome dad of two and founder of the Digital Empowerment Project Canada. Matt is OSINT and SOCINT credentialed. Which means he spends his work hours investigating internet intelligence and decoding information in an effort to reduce harms and end online exploitation. 

Empowering kids to be internet safe

Matt says that being a dad motivates his work. In fact, once kids came along his priorities and values shifted to helping them grow up healthy and safe. That means being safe about their pool, around the campfire (making s’mores), and around what he calls tricky people—both online and offline. It’s important to Matt to teach safety in a way that doesn’t unduly scare them. 

In this episode:

• Beyond cyberbullying. What we need to know about cyberstalking and sextortion.
  
• Defense lines. Staying safe online isn’t a complicated formula. Learn how to avoid tricky people.
  
• Every kid is vulnerable. Find out why kids need to know it’s okay if they make a mistake.
  
• You know more than you think. This is about parenting kids, not technology.

Episode challenge

This week’s challenge is a two-parter. First, ask your child what their favorite app or game is right now. Engage them in conversation by having them tell you about it or teach you certain aspects of it (they’ll probably get pretty excited to share). Next, try what Matt calls a coffee-break Google inquiry. Take 15 minutes to read a couple parent guides on a particular app or game your child uses. WIth the right keyword terms, the top searches will give you amazing results. In just a few minutes you can feel more confident providing a safer online experience for your child. 

Download our FREE guide

Teaching children the basics of body safety can help them identify risky situations and safeguard them from sexual exploitation. Start this valuable conversation today with our 5 Body Safety Tips for Kids guide. Download your FREE printable here. http://bit.ly/Body-Safety-Tips

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, please leave a positive review or tell a friend!

More about today’s guest

Matt Richardson is an expert on internet safety, human trafficking, and the prevention of online exploitation and holds an Ontario Police College credential in Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Social Media Intelligence (SOCINT) internet investigations. He is a professor at Loyalist College where he teaches topics that include online safety, using social media as a positive force, and technology’s impact on modern society. He works in partnership with Timea’s Cause to educate and prevent sex trafficking and is a featured speaker of the 1st Canadian National Summit on Child Sexual Exploitation. He founded the Digital Empowerment Project Canada and is often sought out as a subject matter expert by the media with TV, radio, and print coverage in Canada and the U.S. 

Matt currently serves with the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) Task Force where his skills are applied in the fight to eliminate human trafficking. He alsoas an Ambassador and Volunteer for the “Innocent Lives Foundation” (ILF) which helps law enforcement identify anonymous online child predators and bring them to justice.

Links/Resources

Ep. #2-42, How to Teach Kids Body Safety from an Early Age with Holly-ann Martin

Ep. #3-12, Harnessing the power of youth to end exploitation with Cheryl Perera

FORTIFY – Is your teen struggling with pornography? Click here to check out Fortify – FREE for youth!

BARK – Want help monitoring your kids’ apps and social media? Click here for a FREE 30-day trial of the Bark App or download it at the app store and use our promo code: MEDIASAVVY

COVENANT EYES – Need great filtering software for your internet and devices? Click here to check out Covenant Eyes.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, Parents Aware/Media Savvy Moms receives a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks for helping to support us in our mission to protect families from the harms of pornography.

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Media Savvy Moms Podcast

Who knew honest conversations about parenting and pornography could be so approachable? Join Marilyn for a series of contemplations, chats, and interviews as she helps fellow parents tackle this challenging topic with their kids.

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