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The internet has helped millions of children to learn, connect, and prepare for the future in ways that were impossible a decade ago.
As more young people go online and new innovations such as AI emerge, there is a growing concern about how to assist children (from preschool to high school) in establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship with technology.
Since 2019, there have been over twice as many searches for “teen mental health,” with last year setting an all-time high.
In 2023, people around the world also searched for more information than ever on “parental controls,” “screen time,” and “AI for kids.”
Questions about technology are among the top concerns for families. Therefore, in honor of Safer Internet Day, we will be sharing new commitments, tools, and enhancements to current products to help children and families establish a safe, healthy, and balanced relationship with technology.
Collaborating with Others
At Google, everything we do for children, teens, and families is designed to empower, respect, and protect them.
Throughout the years of developing Google products tailored to children and families, we have built strong relationships with experts in the fields of child development, online safety, and mental health.
Today, we want to continue our commitment and offer $20 million from Google.org to collaborate in promoting digital well-being, mental health, and online safety for children of all ages.
We will announce all the organizations that will receive this assistance in the coming months, but we are delighted to start with some long-standing allies who have been helping children and families for generations:
- Highlights Magazine. For over 75 years, Highlights for Children has helped children bring out their best by channeling their curiosity, creativity, empathy, and confidence.
Today, we are thrilled to publish a special edition of Highlights magazine dedicated to Google’s Be Internet Awesome program. Through the fun and educational puzzles, crafts, and short stories that characterize Highlights, we aim to spread the mission of Be Internet Awesome and help children navigate the digital world safely, smartly, and confidently. We also recognize that access and distribution are crucial to ensure that these resources reach families and children, so for this edition, in addition to delivering Highlights to over a million regular subscribers, we will provide an additional 250,000 copies to local partners of Highlights (schools and organizations such as Save the Children and Reading is Fundamental) that support underserved communities. Our assistance will also enable Highlights to host a digital version of the magazine and complementary materials for free on Highlights.com/InternetSafety.
With the intention to expand awareness and access, in the upcoming months, we will collaborate with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation’s largest youth development organization, to host events at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country with interactive and educational games and activities based on resources from Highlights and Be Internet Awesome.
