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The internet has helped millions of kids learn, connect and prepare for their futures in ways that were impossible even a decade ago. As more young people come online and new innovations like AI are introduced, people are asking important questions about how they can help kids — from preschool to high school — create and maintain safe and healthy relationships with technology.
Since 2019, searches for “teen mental health” have more than doubled — reaching an all time high last year. In 2023, people all over the world were also looking for information on “parental controls,” “screen time” and “AI for kids” more than ever before. Questions about technology are top of mind for families, and for Safer Internet Day we’re sharing new commitments, tools and ongoing product improvements to help kids and families create safe, healthy and balanced relationships with technology.
Collaborating with others
At Google, everything we do for kids, teens and families is created to empower, designed to respect, and built to protect. Through our years of experience building Google products tailored for kids and families, we’ve created strong relationships with experts across child development, online safety and mental health fields.
Today, we’re continuing our legacy of this commitment by providing $20 million from Google.org to support work that promotes digital wellbeing, mental health and online safety for kids of all ages. We’ll be announcing all of the organizations receiving support in the coming months, but we’re thrilled to kick things off with a few allies who’ve been helping kids and families for generations:
- Highlights Magazine. For over 75 years Highlights for Children has helped kids become their best selves by helping them channel their curiosity, creativity, caring and confidence. Today, we’re excited to be releasing a special edition of Highlights Magazine based upon Google’s Be Internet Awesome curriculum. Through the fun, engaging and educational puzzles, crafts and short stories that have made Highlights a staple, we’ve collaborated to bring Be Internet Awesome’s mission to help kids be safe, smart and confident online explorers to life. We also know that access and distribution are key to ensuring these resources reach families and kids. So for this edition, beyond reaching Highlights’ more than one million regular subscribers, we’re providing an additional 250,000 copies to local Highlight’s partners — schools and organizations like Save the Children and Reading is Fundamental — which serve lower income communities. Our support is also enabling Highlights to offer a free digital version of the magazine and supplementary materials at Highlights.com/InternetSafety.
Taking awareness and access one step further, in the coming months we plan to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation’s largest youth development organization, to host events with interactive and educational games and activities based on the Highlights and Be Internet Awesome resources at select Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.