Access to the internet is both easier and more necessary today than ever before. While the internet certainly has many benefits, there are also safety risks that may disproportionately threaten children and teenagers that we all should be aware of. In 2022, residents of Corona, Queens proposed the idea to hold workshops for families on digital safety as part of the The People's Money - Citywide Participatory Budgeting. CIANA was selected by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission to implement these workshops.

Throughout the Spring of 2024, Our Outreach team educated more than 70 parents at three elementary schools in Corona on common digital safety concerns that they or their children may face, such as adult content, harmful social media trends, stranger danger, and the detrimental impact on cyberbullying, just to name a few.​

Using content from Commonsense Media and other great platforms, we instructed parents on how they can work with their children to create rules and plans for using the internet and digital devices, so that folks of all ages understand the importance of digital safety. We're excited to share some of our resources and lessons here with everyone.