June is recognized as National Internet Safety Month, a time to focus on spreading awareness and encouraging smart online behaviors. Now is a great time to sit your children down and discuss the potential threats and scams, as well as resources to be utilized to promote online safety. 

It can be challenging to constantly monitor your children’s online activity. Discussing cyberbullying, online predators, and viewing inappropriate content can help in preventing potential harm caused. Some key online safety statistics are listed below:

• Last year, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received 859,532 complaints, with over $16 billion in reported losses, an increase of 33% from 2023.

• In 2023, there were 2,365 cyberattacks affecting over 343 million victims, marking a 72% increase in data breaches since 2021.

• Approximately 67% of children aged 10–12 and 76% of teenagers have encountered bullying online. 

• 58% of kids aged 10-12 and 75% of teenagers have been exposed to sexually explicit content online.

• Around 8% of children aged 10-12 and 10% of teenagers have experienced predatory behaviors online.

“Internet Safety Month is more than just awareness, it's a call to action,” said Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt. “This month, we are encouraging parents and guardians to have the hard conversations with their children. Online safety is a shared responsibility, one that continues beyond the month of June”.

As digital threats escalate, this month is a critical reminder for families, schools, and businesses to take proactive steps to secure their digital presence.