Governor Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson Share Online Safety Tips for the Summer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 2, 2026
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RALEIGH - Governor Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson are encouraging families to take steps to keep kids safe online this summer.

"Summer is a time for kids to learn, explore, and have fun both in the real world and online," said Governor Josh Stein. "When young people are out of school, they spend more time online, and families should be aware of the risks. Taking a few simple steps to promote internet safety and set expectations around screen time can help keep our children safe this summer."

"My kids are out of school for the summer, and it was a good time for a refresher conversation about online safety and screen time," said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. "If you're concerned about the hours your kids may be logging online this summer, these steps can help make sure they're staying safe."

Kids may be spending more time online when they're on summer vacation. And while the internet offers opportunities to explore new interests, children may also be more susceptible to online dangers like cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, identity theft, abuse, and exploitation.

Here are some steps you can take to keep your children safe this summer:

• Make a plan. Monitor what your child is doing online, set ground rules and screen time limits, and make sure your child knows they can talk to a trusted adult when something goes wrong. NCDOJ's Family Tech Agreement is designed to encourage conversations and help families set expectations regarding internet and device use.

• Review device and app settings. Explore the privacy and content settings of your home TV, computer, tablets, and phones and make sure you're comfortable with the permissions your child may have to view certain content, make in-app purchases, block inappropriate images, and limit daily app usage.

• Report your concerns. If your child receives invitations for nonconsensual or intimate acts or unsolicited obscene material over the internet, report it by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visiting the CyberTipline. Federal law enforcement agencies have entire teams dedicated to looking into cybercrime allegations. Save original messages, block the sender, and do not engage further with the harasser.

• Hold platforms accountable. If intimate images or videos are shared online without consent, new tools are available to help victims seek removal and report platforms that fail to act. Under federal law, covered platforms must provide a way to request removal of this content and remove qualifying content within 48 hours of receiving a valid request. Victims should report violations to the Federal Trade Commission using this online form and seek assistance from law enforcement.

Last month, Governor Stein and North Carolina Department of Information Technology Secretary Denny promoted internet safety through the Secure Your Square Challenge, which encouraged residents, families, schools, businesses, local governments, state employees, and community organizations to complete internet safety actions on a digital bingo card. Participants are encouraged to download the Secure Your Square bingo card at it.nc.gov/secureyoursquare.

North Carolinians are urged to take the following actions to enhance their safety and privacy online:

• Turning on two-factor authentication

• Using strong, unique passwords

• Updating apps and software

• Adjusting privacy settings

• Learning how to spot phishing messages and scams

• Reporting suspicious activity

Earlier this month, Attorney General Jackson opposed a federal digital safety bill that would weaken existing state-level protections, shield Big Tech from accountability, and fail to deliver real protections for minors.

Attorney General Jackson has repeatedly pushed tech companies to do better for children. In August 2025, he demanded that tech companies protect kids from predatory artificial intelligence products and demanded that search engines, banks, and payment platforms take stronger steps against deepfake nonconsensual intimate imagery. Earlier that month, he demanded that Instagram change its location-sharing feature to protect kids from predators. Additionally, the North Carolina Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against Meta and TikTok over alleged harm to minors. Attorney General Jackson and Utah Attorney General Derek Brown have formed a bipartisan AI Task Force focused in part on developing safeguards that AI developers should follow to protect the public, especially children.

You do not have to be a computer expert to help protect your child online. Help is available from law enforcement, child safety organizations, and the NCDOJ.

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