Deacons Keeping Kids Safe Online

Keeping Kids Safe Online

Deacons can help parents keep kids safe with this 10-Step Program

(To be published in TheDeacon magazine, Jan 2025)

 By Deacon John O’Maley                                                                                            

     In today’s digital age, the internet poses significant threats to the health and well-being of children. Our children are facing dangers that we did not have to navigate

when we were kids. From exposure to inappropriate content to predatory individuals, the dangers are real and alarming. To address this urgent issue, I developed "Smart Parenting in The Digital Age," a comprehensive 10-step program designed for parishes and schools to support parents in keeping their children safe online

     As a father, and grandfather, married fifty years with four children, and five grandchildren, I have always felt a calling to safeguard children. This led me to establish Parents Protecting Children, Inc. (https://www.strongerfamiliesonline.org/), a non-profit organization focusing on helping parents shield children from internet dangers.

     The internet is a double-edged sword. While it offers vast educational resources, it also exposes all minds to harmful content and predatory behaviors. The statistics are alarming: seventy-three percent (73%) of teens have seen online pornography; ninety-five percent (95%) of teens have smartphone access; fifty-four percent (54%) of children have been exposed before the age of thirteen (Common Sense Media). These figures illustrate a pressing need for proactive measures.

     Pornography can lead to sexting, bullying, sextortion, social media abuse, and sex trafficking. Predatory individuals use social media platforms to locate and exploit children. Millions of predators are constantly attacking millions of children with innovative and cutting-edge AI software and technology on all social media platforms, including Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Messenger, X (Twitter), Roblox, and more.

     Three hundred thousand (300,000) American children are victims of commercial sexual exploitation each year (Safe House Project). This 10-step program includes nationally recognized books designed to help parents educate children of all ages (experts recommend starting at ages 3-6) on the dangers of the internet; safe smartphone alternatives; leading tech/app safety programs for all devices that access the internet; twenty-five (25) bulletin inserts for parish/school publications; guidelines and instructions for setting up parish and school resource web pages; and a comprehensive presentation detailing these dangers and appropriate resources which can be given to schools, parents, and various groups within the parish. This program provides everything parents need to keep their kids safe.

  Dr. Andrew Sodergren, Director of Ruah Woods Psychological Services, a leading Midwest agency, praises the program. "Pornography is a silent, global pandemic afflicting our children. It robs their innocence and instills in their minds a distorted view of sexuality. We must do everything we can to protect and inoculate them from this pervasive evil. The 10-Step Program is an excellent way to do just that.”

     The multi-trillion-dollar porn industry is actively coming after our children and grandchildren. They provide free, widespread online access to extreme content. The porn industry hires Fortune 500 Ad Agencies to target teens. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are incredibly popular among young people. Pornographers create profiles designed to appeal to teens, on these sites, with very explicit, sexualized images and videos, with links to pornographic websites (CultureReframed.org).      

  The 10-step program is designed to be a turnkey solution that deacons, with the approval and support of their pastors,  can easily implement in their parishes. The key benefits include education which uses nationally recognized books (such as Good Pictures, Bad Pictures) to educate parents and children about online dangers; tech/app safety which makes available leading safety programs for all internet-accessing devices; communication, as twenty-five bulletin inserts for parish/school publications are available for immediate use detailing the risks and solutions; guidance on how to set up parish and school resource web pages with  instructions; a comprehensive presentation which provides all details of the threats and solutions for schools, parents, and parish groups; community support which can help build a network of support with parents, teachers, deacons, and professionals…and so much more.

     Deacons have a unique opportunity to help their pastors implement this turnkey 10-step program in parishes which will go a long way in helping parents protect their children from the risk posed by the internet. The deacon is the perfect resource within the parish to take a leadership role on an action plan against this terrifying problem. Deacons are called to serve as ministers of charity. What better way to demonstrate that charity than to become a conduit for parents to the education and resources needed to keep our precious children safe from danger. The ten steps are outlined in such a way that deacons can use, edit, tailor, and implement a comprehensive program ideally suited for each parish and school from the information that is offered as part of this comprehensive 10-step program. This can be wonderful ministry enabling a deacon to serve Jesus, the pastor, parish, parents, children, and school.

  I attended the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation (CESE) Global Summit, August 5-8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The theme was “The Great Collision: Emerging Tech, Sexual Exploitation, and the Ongoing Pursuit of Dignity.” It focused on the intersection between sexual exploitation and tech innovations. It delved deep into the transformative potential and dangers of emerging technologies and their intersections with sexual exploitation. Sixty (60) experts in the field shared their expertise on the latest developments with deliberate dialogues, which contributed to actionalble strategies. A key takeaway from the summit was that parents' lack of understandng/recognition of the exreme dangers to children on the internet is a major obstacle in the fight to protest children. That is why this 10-step program is so valuable, because it explains the dangers in detail to parents and provides all the resources they need to ensure their kids are internet-safe. This summit provided an accurate and current update on the resources, apps, technolgies, and techniques used to fight this pervasive evils, which have been incorporated into this program.

     We implemented this program in our local Our Lady of Hope Family of Parishes and St. Francis de Sales School in Cincinnati. In September 2024, we had a mandatory fifth – eight grade student/parent meeting entitled: “How Strong Family Relationships Lead to Internet-Safe Kids Against the Many Dangers Online.” A professional counselor addressed the group, and we passed out leading books to help parents educate their children, along with a comprehensive list of resources including apps for smartphones, smartphone alternatives, and all internet device safety options designed to keep kids from harm. The planning team for this meeting, all who were helpful in executing this program, was the pastor, professional counselor, deacon, school principal, director of religious education, evangelization director, and youth minister. Parents were grateful to receive the education and resources to protect their children. This is the ideal model for implementation in schools. For parishes that do not have a school, the same approach can be implemented at the parish level for religious education classes and various groups within the parish.

     Deacons have an excellent opportunity, with the pastor’s blessing, to help parents keep children safe in the digital age. Deacons can sign up on this web site: https://www.strongerfamiliesonline.org/, to find out how they can implement this 10-step program in their parish and receive all files and presentations for a nominal fee (waivable upon request). Once a deacon signs up, all resources will be made available for implementation in the parish. Training is available.

     Deacons can help parents keep their children safe online by implementing this 10-step program designed for parishes to help parents keep their kids safe in today’s modern culture. Together, we can create a safer online environment for our children.

Empowering Catholic families to navigate the digital world with faith, safety, & responsibility