How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online? Brilliant One-Sentence Advice from Larry Magid

by John Pearce
I’m happy to say I was able to attend the Be Kind Online event last night sponsored by Beyond Differences and the Marin County Office of Education. And Keynote Larry Magid, famed tech columnist and radio host, offered the best advice I’ve ever heard on how to keep our kids safe online. Amidst the blizzard of social network options, the tsunami of content and sources kids have access to, and the deluge of people good and bad posting and trolling, parents can’t hope to control all kids see and do online. The solution? Make sure kids always have a parent to turn to when needed. And the way to preserve that precious recourse? 

"Have dinner together every night."

Larry Magid

Wow. And exactly right. Kids on the web are going to encounter hate and love, inspiration and sickness, and the entire beautiful and frightening cacophony of the world. What they need is a loving adult they know they can talk to, just being there when they need them. Dinner together won’t solve every problem online by a long shot, but knowing we can always talk, that we’re always there, provides kids the essential access point to your wisdom and support. Not to mention keeping up on the latest from 1D.