As technology continues to shape everyday life, families are navigating a world where online safety has become just as important as teaching kids to look both ways before crossing the street. For BVT’s Director of Marketing & Community Relations, Angie Armstrong, the issue is both personal and professional.

“As parents, it’s our responsibility to understand what our kids are doing online,” she said. “But I hear all the time how overwhelmed parents are.” With children ranging from grown adults to a five-year-old at home, she’s experienced the full evolution of kids and technology. Her older children were among the first wave of teens accessing social media — back when parents were still trying to understand it. “If I could go back, I’d have limited more of their social media access in those earlier teen years,” she admitted.

Fortunately, today’s tools make it easier. She encourages parents to start with the basics: set controls on the home WiFi router, explore screentime settings on devices, and adjust privacy settings in kids’ favorite apps. BVT’s Worry-Free WiFi is one of her go-to solutions. “I can now create profiles for each family member, set schedules by profile or device, and apply content filters across our entire network. I even get alerts when a new device connects.”

Finding balance is key. Kids need to learn technology skills, but they also need boundaries. For older elementary students, tweens, and teens, she recommends additional filtering tools like Bark or Aura to allow some freedom while still alerting guardians about risky behavior.

Her best advice for parents feeling overwhelmed: Take one step at a time and keep lines of communication open. “Map out a plan with your kids on what technology, games, or apps they are allowed to use and research how each one can be safeguarded. Educate them on the WHY behind developing a plan. It’s not because they aren’t trusted. It’s to keep them safe.”