Every Month Should be “Internet Safety Month”

At SafetyWeb, our focus year round is to help empower parents to protect their kids’ well-being when it comes to the internet. For us, the month of June is no different than any other, but we’re happy that online safety is being recognized nationwide during “Internet Safety Month.” 

Now that children are out of school for the summer and their time online is likely increasing, it’s the perfect time to teach (or remind) a young person about safe online practices, so that they use good judgment and behavior now, as well as throughout the year.

The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a non-profit public-private partnership focused on cybersecurity awareness and education for all digital citizens, is also highlighting the importance of Internet Safety Month. Research they recently conducted revealed that roughly half (48%) of parents are not completely confident that their children can use the Internet safely.

NCSA recommends three simple steps for all to follow when connecting to the Web:

1. STOP: Before using the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.
2. THINK: Take a moment to make certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs and consider how your actions online could impact your safety as well as that of others.
3. CONNECT: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you've taken the right steps to safeguard yourself, your family and your computer.

We can all avoid the dangerous elements of the internet while benefitting from all the wonderful things it has to offer by following these steps, and recognizing every month as “Internet Safety Month.”