Keeping Kids Safer Online

Every day at Synergy, our teachers are working to help students make better online choices to focus on their school work. Recently we implemented Securly, a special web filter, to keep them safer online when using school MacBooks and iPads. In addition, our network firewall guards against inappropriate content reaching these computers. It’s not perfect, but it provides a framework and focus to keep students safe.

At home and away from school, do you know where your children are online?

As parents, it’s easy to assume that your kids are safely watching one more TikTok video, finishing Synergy homework, or chatting with friends. However, spending late-night hours online can open doors we’d never leave unlocked in real life.

Like most parents, you may set time limits for safety — bedtime, curfew, lights out. But digital curfews matter too. Late-night scrolling can turn into exposure to harmful content, online predators, or simply lost sleep that affects children’s mental health and school performance.

For families, we recommend these small steps to keep your kids safer online:

• Collect all devices and store in a secure area away from late night eyes.
• Use built-in parental controls or screen-time limits. (See: Apple parent controls)
• Engage with your kids about what they’re doing online and why.
• Lead by example — model healthy device use habits yourself.

And a reminder: Digital safety isn’t about control — it’s about protection and trust. Let’s make sure all our kids are safe not just in their rooms, but in their digital worlds too.

If you need more help, check out Common Sense Media’s resources for parents.