Cyber Elementary Blog

Articles & Guidance

Writing on kids' online safety, AI safety, and digital citizenship โ€” from the team behind the Cyber Elementary School curriculum.

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Online Gaming Safety for Kids: Chat, Strangers and In-Game Purchases

By Mark Mattei ยท September 29, 2026

Online games are social networks with a game attached. How to set parental controls on consoles, Roblox and Fortnite, handle chat and strangers, stop surprise purchases, and spot gaming scams.

How to Tell If a Picture or Video Was Made by AI

By Mark Mattei ยท September 25, 2026

No single trick proves a picture or video is real. Here's a quick routine for parents, teachers and kids: AI labels, Content Credentials, reverse image search, and a simple Pause-Check-Ask habit.

Chatbot Privacy for Kids: What's Safe to Share and What Isn't

By Mark Mattei ยท September 25, 2026

Kids should treat a chatbot like a stranger who writes everything down. What never to share, what's fine to ask, red flags to watch for, age rules and parental controls.

A Parent's Checklist for a Child's First Phone or Tablet

By Mark Mattei ยท September 25, 2026

Most of the protection comes from the first hour of setup. A step-by-step checklist: child accounts, screen time, contacts, privacy, passwords, family rules and check-ins.

AI and Teen Mental Health

AI and Teen Mental Health

By Mark Mattei ยท July 30, 2026

AI is now part of everyday teen life โ€” from study apps to chatbots and social feeds. Here's how it affects emotional well-being, and practical steps for teens, parents, and schools to use it more safely.

EXTERNAL RESOURCE

NOVA Labs: Cybersecurity Lab

By PBS NOVA ยท Recommended Resource

A free, interactive game from PBS NOVA where kids defend a company from cyber attacks โ€” cracking passwords, writing code, and outsmarting hackers along the way. A fun, hands-on intro to how cybersecurity really works.

EXTERNAL RESOURCE

Wall of Sheep: Learn Why Encryption Matters

By Packet Hacking Village ยท Recommended Resource

An eye-opening cybersecurity exhibit that uses packet-capture tools and forensics games to show how easily unencrypted logins can be exposed on a network โ€” a memorable, real-world lesson in why encryption and strong passwords matter.

EXTERNAL RESOURCE

AI: What Should Parents, Caregivers & Educators Know?

By Anti-Defamation League ยท Recommended Resource

A practical guide from the ADL on helping kids navigate AI safely and critically โ€” covering AI literacy, bias and misinformation, and conversation starters for building digital resilience at home and in the classroom.