Internet Safety Resources
NetSmartz
NetSmartz is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) online safety education program. It provides free age-appropriate videos, activities, and teaching materials to help teach children to be safer online with the goal of helping children to become more aware of potential online risks and empowering them to help prevent victimization by making safer choices on and offline. For families and students in grades k-12, NetSmartz can help you create a dynamic and engaging Internet safety curriculum.
Connect Safely
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to educating people about online safety, privacy, security and digital wellness. Resources include research-based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news and commentary on all aspects of tech use and policy. They offer in-depth guides and “quick-guides” for parents, educators, youth and policymakers along with resources.
Family Online Safety Institute
Family Online Safety Institute is a website for parents and professionals that brings together and highlights the best safety messages, tools and methods to reach parents, children and caregivers. It includes tools to help talk to kids about online safety, and provides videos, tip sheets, resources, blogs, and more.
Children and Screens
The site includes webinars, publications, tip sheets, bookstore and more. These resources help parents and educators navigate children’s relationship with social media and the challenges that sometimes arise around “screens” helping them lead healthy lives in a digital world.
Parenting for a Digital Future
Parenting for a Digital Future is a blog about growing up in a digital world. It looks at the many questions that arise from children’s relationship with the digital world. It’s research driven and addresses the risks and opportunities that can shape children’s digital lives now and in the future. It’s based in the UK and has a global perspective.
Common Sense
Common Sense is dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. It includes reviews, ratings, and recommendations for parents and educators on all things media including movies, TV, games, books, apps, and podcasts. In addition, it has training and guides on all aspects of media from the Parents’ Ultimate Guide to TikTok to having conversations with your children about their screen time habits and so much more.
Healthychildren.org
This website is run by the American Academy of Pediatrics and includes information and resources related to all things child development and safety. In addition, there is a section on media (located under the family life tab) which provides invaluable information on children and technology.
Digital Wellness Lab
This site contains information on research projects as well as resources to promote digital wellness. It includes a variety of parent guides covering a range of topics with detailed advice based on the latest peer-reviewed scientific research. Additionally, it has free webinars that address today’s issues concerning media and children.
Smart Social
This site has membership programs for families and schools but you don’t have to be a member to access resources on this site. It includes detailed information on media including apps, video games and online activities, and codes them according to the level of appropriateness and risk or danger.
Safe Search Kids
Safe Search Kids is a safe search engine powered by Google which filters searches and images to be safe for kids to view. Users can perform searches right from the site and it also includes lots of resources and information to promote safety on the internet. Bookmark this site to be used by young children.
Be Internet Awesome
To make the most of the Internet, kids need to be prepared to make smart decisions. Be Internet Awesome by Google teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. It’s a great resource for families and educator and includes a curriculum for educating children on being responsible digital users, interactive game for kids, a family guide and more. Available in English and Spanish.
Enough Is Enough
This site is dedicated to raising public awareness about the dangers of internet pornography, sexual predators, and other dangers. It includes resources and research as well as action items for those who want to get more involved.
Cyberbullying Research Center
This site contains resources for parents, educators, students, healthcare providers, and adult victims on cyberbullying. It includes information on bullying laws throughout the US as well as research and blog articles related to this topic. Most of the resources are free but there is a fee for in person presentations.
Stop Sextortion
Sextortion is when someone blackmails/threatens to expose a sexual image in order to make a person do something they don’t want to do, like send more photos or send money. Learning about how sextortion happens and what to do to protect your child is an important step in guiding a dialogue to prevent it from occurring in the first place. This site includes actionable steps for friends, caregivers, and the individual who is experiencing sextortion. It also has a link to a trained counselor who can help.
Gary Weitzen
POAC Executive Director
Gary Weitzen, the Executive Director of POAC Autism Services, also holds a certified law enforcement instructor title in New Jersey and has 20 years of experience in risk management. Besides managing POAC, he’s spent 15 years teaching life skills to adults with autism. A notable autism advocate, Gary has been featured in major media networks and has a son with autism, Christopher.