Digital Safety Resources for Families

Overview

Families and caregivers are the best at helping their young people know what online behavior is acceptable in their lives and homes. Adult family members can help the youth in their lives stay safe online and become responsible digital citizens by making their household values and expectations known, being aware of what their young people are posting, watching, reading, and participating in online and by educating themselves on internet safety and trends. There are numerous resources and opportunities to help.

Internet Filters at Schools and Libraries

Colorado schools and public libraries that receive federal funding comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act and the Neighborhood Internet Protection Act. These laws place restrictions on the use of funding that is available through the Library Services and Technology Act, Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and on the Universal Service discount program known as the E-rate. These restrictions take the form of requirements for Internet safety policies and technology which blocks or filters certain material from being accessed through the Internet. Internet filters are software programs that block access to content that is considered inappropriate for viewing in a public place. Filtering software protects against the visual depiction of pornography, obscenity and child pornography. No filtering software is totally accurate. Filters may falsely block material that is appropriate in a school or public library setting or they may fail to block access to illegal or objectionable material. Customers may send requests to block or unblock a specific site to the school or public library that is providing filtered access to the internet.

While the Colorado Department of Education is sensitive to the concerns of customers about Internet content, no one, including CDE, can control information available on the Internet.