How to Keep Your Children Safe Online in 2027

Book published in October 2026

Deacon John O'Maley

Q&A Interview about this book, November 2026

QUESTION 1: THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BOOK

Deacon John, you've had a remarkable journey through military service, business, and ministry. What inspired you to bring all these experiences together in writing this book, and what motivated you to address online child safety?

·   My military, business, and ministry experience has taught me to prepare, take responsibility, and serve others.

·   As a father and grandfather, protecting children is deeply personal. We have been blessed with 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren, ranging in age between 8-18.

·   I wanted to give parents practical steps they can use, even when technology feels overwhelming.

• A deeply personal experience also motivated me to write this book. As a teenager, I was sexually abused by an adult in a position of authority outside my family. Through therapy, I have healed and moved forward, but that experience was profoundly traumatic.

• I want to turn that painful experience into something positive by helping parents protect their children from abuse. That desire is a major part of why I wrote How to Keep Children Safe Online 2027 and founded Stronger Families Online. My hope is to give parents the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools to help keep their children safe.

QUESTION 2: CONNECTION BEFORE CONTROL

One of the early ideas in your book is connection before control. Why do you believe building trust and open communication with children is just as important as setting rules and restrictions?

·   Children need to know they can come to us, even after a mistake.

·   If they expect anger or punishment, they may hide a problem.

·   I encourage parents to listen calmly, explain boundaries, and make asking for help a habit.

QUESTION 3: THE RIGHT TIME FOR A FIRST PHONE

Your book discusses different stages of childhood, from birth through age seventeen. How can parents determine when their child is truly ready for their first smartphone?

·   I would look at readiness, not pressure from classmates.

·   Can your child follow limits, handle disappointment, recognize risky requests, and ask for help?

·   Start with the simplest device that meets the need, establish rules together, and review readiness as your child grows.

QUESTION 4: BUILDING A FAMILY DIGITAL SAFETY PLAN

You provide a family digital agreement and a thirty-day action plan in your book. How can parents introduce these practical steps without making children feel that technology is being taken away from them?

·   Start by asking what your child enjoys online and what worries them.

·   Build a short agreement together covering time, privacy, purchases, and asking for help.

·   Use the thirty days to introduce manageable changes, and have adults follow the family rules too.

QUESTION 5: PROTECTING DEVICES AND ONLINE ACCOUNTS

Your book discusses passwords, passkeys, account recovery, and additional security measures. What are the most important digital security habits parents should teach their children?

·   Use unique passwords with a password manager, or passkeys where available.

·   Turn on an extra sign-in check, keep devices updated, and protect recovery information.

·   Never share login codes or follow unexpected sign-in links. Review recovery options together before a phone is lost.

QUESTION 6: SOCIAL MEDIA AND GROUP CHATS

Social media and group chats have become a major part of young people's lives. What should parents pay attention to when their children interact with others, share information, or participate in online conversations?

·   Ask who is in the chat, how people treat one another, and whether anyone feels pressured.

·   Review privacy settings and keep personal details out of posts.

·   Teach children to pause before sharing, refuse hurtful pile-ons, and tell a trusted adult when a conversation turns threatening or sexual

QUESTION 7: ONLINE GAMING AND DIGITAL COMMUNITIES

Your book gives a full chapter to online gaming and communities. What risks should parents be aware of, particularly with voice chats, online strangers, virtual gifts, and in-game purchases?

·   Play alongside your child sometimes, and check who can message or speak with them.

·   Set purchase approvals and limits before spending starts.

·   Explain that gifts can create pressure. An online profile doesn't prove who someone is. Watch for requests for secrecy or private contact.

QUESTION 8: CHILDREN AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

You discuss AI companions, misinformation, and fabricated images in your book. How can parents help children use artificial intelligence responsibly while understanding its limitations and protecting their personal information?

·   Explain that AI can sound convincing while getting things wrong, and images can be fabricated.

·   Check important claims against reliable sources and keep identifying details out of prompts.

·   AI companions cannot replace trusted people. Follow age rules, review privacy settings, and keep talking about what your child encounters.

QUESTION 9: PRIVACY AND DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS

Your book explains how photographs, location information, school details, and online activity can reveal more about a child than parents may realize. What steps can families take to protect their children's privacy and digital identity?

·   Share less about your child, including school names, routines, and real-time locations.

·   Review privacy settings, location permissions, and details visible in photographs.

·   Ask permission before posting about older children, and model that respect yourself. Explain that even private posts can be copied or shared beyond their intended audience.

QUESTION 10: RECOGNIZING ONLINE GROOMING AND MANIPULATION

You dedicate a chapter to recognizing grooming and manipulation. What warning signs should parents teach children to recognize, especially when someone online uses gifts, friendship, or secrecy to gain their trust?

·   Watch for intense attention, gifts with strings attached, sexual questions, and requests for secrecy.

·   Be cautious when someone tries to move a conversation into private channels or separate a child from trusted adults.

·   Teach children they owe nobody pictures or personal access. They can stop and ask for help.

QUESTION 11: SEXTORTION AND SYNTHETIC IMAGE ABUSE

Your book discusses sextortion and fabricated sexual images. When a child becomes a target of these threats, what should a parent do first, and how can they support the child without making them feel ashamed or afraid?

·   Say, 'I'm here for you. You deserve help.'

·   Don't pay or send more images.

·   Keep threats and account details. Never download or forward sexual images.

·   Report to the platform, police, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Block contact and support your child.

QUESTION 12: CYBERBULLYING AND ONLINE HATE

Your book also explores cyberbullying, hate, and coercive online communities. How can parents recognize when their child is being targeted, and what can they do to help without making the situation more difficult?

·   Notice withdrawal, sleep changes, school avoidance, or distress after going online. Ask gently.

·   Listen, preserve evidence, and plan next steps with your child.

·   Use reporting and blocking tools, involve the school when relevant, and get professional help for serious distress or safety concerns.

QUESTION 13: SLEEP, ATTENTION, AND FAMILY WELLBEING

You also discuss how digital habits can affect sleep, attention, relationships, and family routines. How can parents create a healthier balance between screen use and other important activities in their children's lives?

·   Protect sleep first, with a regular bedtime and devices charging outside bedrooms.

·   Make room for meals together, movement, friendships, and quiet time.

·   Look at how screens affect your particular child. Agree on routines, adjust when needed, and let children see adults put their phones down too.

QUESTION 14: RESPONDING WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG

Your book provides guidance on responding to hacked accounts, online scams, exposed personal information, and other digital incidents. What should parents prioritize when they discover that their child has experienced an online problem?

·   Check your child's immediate safety and reassure them. Get emergency help for immediate danger.

·   Stop contact or payments, preserve relevant evidence, and secure affected accounts through official recovery channels.

·   Report the incident to the platform and appropriate authorities. Then review what happened together and strengthen the family's safeguards.

QUESTION 15: FAITH, VALUES, AND RAISING RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL CITIZENS

As a Catholic deacon, father, and grandfather, you place a strong emphasis on faith, human dignity, and responsibility. As children grow into teenagers and eventually adults, what values and practical skills do you believe parents should help them develop so they can make wise decisions online, even when their parents are not around?

·   Our faith teaches that every person has God-given dignity, including people behind screens.

·   Teach children to verify information, respect privacy, recognize manipulation, and repair harm.

·   Practice these habits together. I want children to develop sound judgment, compassion, and the courage to ask for help.