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Can your child access YouTube, AI chatbots, or the open internet on their school-issued device? And if so, who is responsible for keeping them safe?
In Part 2 of our Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, I'm joined by Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes and one of the nation's leading experts on digital safety for children.
Using questions submitted by parents, we tackle the biggest concerns families have about school technology, including student privacy, AI, YouTube access, Google Classroom, Minecraft for Education and what children can actually access during the school day.
Chris explains what schools are doing well, where the biggest risks still exist, and—most importantly—what parents can do to better protect their children. We also discuss whether parents can opt out of certain technologies, what rights families have when it comes to student data, and the practical questions every parent should ask before signing a school technology agreement.
If you've ever wondered whether your child's school device is as safe as you think it is, this episode will leave you better informed and better prepared for the school year ahead.
This episode is part of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we're bringing your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
7 Ways to Advocate for a Tech-Safe School Year (A Parent Action Guide)
6 Tech Questions to Ask Your Principal
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Routers
My interview with Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath about i-Ready
Bark for Schools - Free monitoring for school-issued devices!
You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning.
A special thank you to Buckets Over Bullying who provided a generous donation in support of this mini-series.
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