"I've always been very interested in safety. I have a bit of a strange background, including being an environmental scientist who did site inspections and a QVC host . These days, I'm a TikTok influencer with more than 2 million followers. I post about all sorts of safety, including digital security. My kids are too young for social media - they're only 2 and 3. But I have a 20-year-old sister and teenage nieces, and I've always been their go-to adult when it comes to online life."
"The internet can be scary, but approaching it from a place of fear isn't useful. When people act out of fear, they try to control things. That's not really helpful online, because you're never going to be able to completely control your kids' actions. Pushing aside fear is easier said than done. I like to focus on some mantras: We are a community, and most people are good. There are simple things you can do every day to keep yourself and your children safer online."
A mother with backgrounds in environmental science and television, now a major social media safety creator, combines technical knowledge with familiarity with teen apps. Children in the household are ages two and three, while older relatives provide practical perspective on teenage online life. Parents often respond to online risk with fear and control, which is ineffective because total control is impossible. Prioritizing empathy, understanding, curiosity, and simple daily actions empowers safer behavior. Key practical advice includes regularly updating apps and engaging teens with calm, curious conversations rather than punitive restrictions. Mantras such as 'we are a community' reinforce constructive attitudes toward online safety.
Read at Business Insider
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