Silent Threats Lurking in Your Child's Devices and How To Avoid Them

Ben Halpert is a cybersecurity leader, educator, and advocate dedicated to empowering digital citizens. As a Fractional CISO, author, and the founder of Savvy Cyber Kids, he advances cyber safety and ethics. A sought-after speaker, Ben shares insights globally, shaping secure digital futures at work, school, and home. In this episode… Many parents mistakenly believe that technology companies have built-in safety controls that keep children safe online. In reality, these protections are often inadequate and misleading. From AI chatbots posing as friends to online predators targeting children through gaming platforms and social media, young users, whose brains are still developing, struggle to distinguish the differences between real human interactions and programmed responses. How can parents and caregivers proactively safeguard their children's digital experiences while fostering healthy tech habits? Addressing these risks starts with parental oversight and consistent, age-appropriate education and guidance. Devices should be removed from kids' bedrooms at night to prevent unsupervised use and reduce exposure to online threats. Parents should actively monitor every app, game, and online interaction, ensuring children only engage with people they know in real life. Families should also establish device-free times, like during meals, to encourage face-to-face communication and teach healthy social habits. Savvy Cyber Kids supports these efforts by providing age-appropriate educational resources, including children's picture books, classroom activities, and digital parenting guides that help families navigate online safety. By focusing on direct education for young children and providing tools for parents and schools, the organization instills foundational privacy and cybersecurity awareness from an early age. In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels welcome Ben Halpert, Founder of Savvy Cyber Kids, back to the podcast to discuss the growing digital threats facing kids' today. Ben explains how AI chatbots are being treated as real friends, how social media messaging misleads parents, and why depending on tech companies for protection is risky. He also shares how predators use games and platforms to target kids, and how parental involvement and early education can help build safer digital habits. He shares steps parents can take to monitor and guide their children's tech use at home, and explains how Savvy Cyber Kids helps by educating young children in schools and providing families with tools to teach online safety.