Online Safety

Proponents of the Kids Online Safety Act are acknowledging a long road ahead for their legislation despite cheering recent progress. The bill faces dim prospects of passage this session, even with mounting political pressure.

The FTC offers a free tool called Youville to help 8-12 year-olds develop online safety skills during summer and the school year. The tool is designed to assist parents in teaching children how to make good decisions while online.

The Lock and Code podcast discusses increasing global efforts to protect children online, including age verification laws in the U.S. and potential social media bans for under-16s in several countries. Host David Ruiz and guest Anna Brading, a cybersecurity expert and mother of three, explore strategies for parents to manage children's digital safety, such as setting screen time limits and monitoring online activity.

Metro Council members are set to consider legislation Tuesday night that supporters say is designed to protect Nashville's young people online.

Explorer Scouts are introducing new badges in content creation, digital communication, and online safety for 14- to 18-year-olds, following consultations with nearly 3,000 teenagers. The badges, part of the Scout movement’s first major overhaul in 25 years, aim to equip youth with skills to navigate AI, social media, and digital technology.

The article emphasizes the importance of parental engagement in ensuring online safety for Ohio children, particularly through platforms like Roblox. It highlights educational aspects of online gaming and safety measures such as chat restrictions and age-based account divisions. The Ohio PTA encourages collaborative efforts to foster secure digital experiences for kids.

LAUSD approved new screen time policies starting in August 2026, banning device use for preschool through 1st grade and imposing weekly/daily limits for older grades. Exceptions apply for computer-dependent subjects and students with disabilities, with costs including $4.25 million for laptop carts and $1 million annually for software.

The article discusses creating a family plan for summer screen time by establishing rules and using parental controls to ensure online safety.

A ransomware attack at Evanston Township High School underscores growing cybersecurity threats, as experts warn AI is making cyberattacks more sophisticated and harder to detect. The incident highlights concerns about AI's role in escalating online safety risks.

The UK denied seeking an exemption from U.S. export controls on Anthropic’s advanced AI models, as the U.S. government imposed restrictions over security concerns. Anthropic will comply by restricting access, while the UK emphasized collaboration with industry to ensure responsible AI development and online safety for children.

An increasing number of countries are considering or enacting social media bans for young users. Experts suggest these restrictions, aimed at improving online safety, are becoming more common and could mark a significant challenge for major technology companies.

A new survey found that kids can easily bypass age checks despite a rise in age verification laws worldwide, with some using fake mustaches to deceive the system. The survey highlights the ineffectiveness of current age verification methods. This issue raises concerns about online safety and security for minors.