As law enforcement warns of rising digital threats, parents are turning to specialized software and security practices to monitor and filter online activity. According to Internet safety guidelines, internet safety refers to policies and practices designed to reduce harms enabled by the misuse of the internet, which can include cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online predators, and sextortion.
Understanding Digital Threats
Children are frequent targets of malicious users who utilize digital communication for personal gain, and common online threats to personal safety include phishing, internet scams, malware, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online predators, and sextortion. Malware, including spyware, is designed to collect and transmit private information without user consent, and is often distributed through email, software, and files from unofficial locations. Phishing scams often disguise themselves as trustworthy sources to obtain private information like passwords.
Parental Control Software
Parental control software is designed to help parents monitor and filter online activity, and can include features such as blocking inappropriate content, monitoring communication, and tracking online activity. According to Katie Greer, a nationally recognized internet safety expert, parents should focus on privacy settings and understanding social media age limitations to keep their kids safe online. Greer also recommends discussing internet safety with children and determining the appropriate age for them to begin using smartphones.
Strategies For Managing Online Activity
Educating families on digital risks is considered a collaborative effort between schools and law enforcement, according to Jeffrey Mlsna, the director of secondary education at Stevens Point Area Public School District. The district and local law enforcement have offered community forums on internet safety, which cover topics such as social media, cyberbullying, sextortion, and artificial intelligence. These forums provide families with helpful tools and an open space to ask questions about online safety concerns. By working together, parents, schools, and law enforcement can help keep children safe online and protect them from digital threats.
Broader Implications
The broader stakes of internet safety are significant, as the misuse of the internet can have serious consequences for individuals and society as a whole. By understanding the mechanics of parental control software and implementing strategies for managing online activity, parents can help protect their children from digital threats and promote a safer online environment. What this signals is a growing recognition of the importance of internet safety and the need for a collaborative effort to address the issue. As the calculus of internet safety continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see new technologies and strategies emerge to help keep children safe online.
Community Forum Initiatives
Community forums on internet safety are being hosted by school districts and law enforcement to educate families about digital risks and provide practical resources. According to Jeffrey Mlsna, the director of secondary education at Stevens Point Area Public School District, these forums aim to help families better understand the risks children face online and offer practical ways to keep them safe.
The Stevens Point Area Public School District and Stevens Point Police Department hosted a community forum on internet safety on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, focusing on social media, cyberbullying, sextortion, and artificial intelligence. The event ran from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 1322 at Stevens Point Area Senior High School and included a short presentation on current online trends, ways parents can help protect their children, and local resources available to families.
A question-and-answer session followed the presentation, giving attendees an opportunity to speak directly with police representatives and district leaders about online safety concerns. The event was free and open to all community members, including families with children enrolled in the district, and is part of an ongoing effort to equip families with helpful tools and an open space to ask questions about digital safety.
Key Features For Monitoring Communication And Filtering Content
Parental control software can help parents monitor and filter online activity, reducing the risk of children being exposed to harmful content.
Internet safety expert Katie Greer recommends focusing on privacy settings and understanding social media age limitations to keep kids safe online. Greer also suggests discussing internet safety with children and determining the appropriate age for them to begin using smartphones.
Common online threats to personal safety include phishing, internet scams, malware, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online predators, and sextortion. Malware, including spyware, is designed to collect and transmit private information without user consent, and is often distributed through email, software, and files from unofficial locations.
Balancing Supervision With Open Communication
Parents are encouraged to combine digital supervision tools with honest conversations about online safety, as emphasized by internet safety expert Katie Greer. According to her guidance, discussing internet safety with children and determining the appropriate age for smartphone use are key steps in fostering trust and awareness. These conversations help children understand why certain protections are in place and empower them to make safer choices online.
Greer, a nationally recognized speaker, highlights that focusing on privacy settings and social media age limitations should go hand-in-hand with open dialogue. This approach ensures that technical safeguards are supported by mutual understanding, reducing the likelihood of children circumventing controls due to confusion or resentment. By involving children in safety discussions, parents can build a cooperative environment rather than relying solely on restrictions.
The Stevens Point Area Public School District and Stevens Point Police Department reinforce this balance in their community forums, where officials stress the importance of both practical tools and open communication. As Jeffrey Mlsna noted, these events aim to equip families with helpful tools while providing an open space to ask questions about online safety concerns. This dual focus supports a proactive and informed approach to digital safety at home.
Sources
- Internet safety
- Internet safety expert to speak at Berks school
- Stevens Point schools, police to host another internet safety forum Oct. 21
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