Digital Danger Zones: Protecting Kids in a Connected World

Today’s kids are growing up in a world where a single post can go viral—and a single mistake can leave a lasting digital footprint. This eye-opening session gives families practical strategies to support children of all ages as they navigate social media, gaming platforms, and digital communication. We’ll uncover what kids are really encountering online—from cyberbullying to sexting and sextortion scams—and the legal and personal consequences that can follow. Families will gain conversation starters, safety tips, and response strategies to help children make wise, informed choices in a digital world that never sleeps.

AUDIENCE: Families of elementary and secondary students 
DURATION: 120 mins (recommended) for the full presentation; they can also opt for a two-part series (each one hour) is just one of the two parts. 

PART 1 TOPICS –

• Social media usage and its impact
• Exploring what a digital footprint is
• Limitations to free speech
• Cyberbullying and how that impacts your digital footprint
• How social media posts can come back to haunt us
• Understanding the dangers and criminality of sexting
• Tips for talking about sexting with teens

PART 2 TOPICS -

• REVIEW ITEMS FROM PART 1:
• Social media usage and its impact
• Understanding the dangers and criminality of sexting
• What catfishing is and why people catfish
• How AI and deepfakes have contributed to false identities and scams
• Understanding sextortion – how it happens, motivating factors, and what platforms are used most often
• Tips for talking about safe social media usage with kids