<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1hiehL_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1hiehL_0wPaO00X00" width="980" height="653" ><figcaption>Kylie Moore</figcaption></figure><p>I couldn’t be more grateful that I came of age before social media was as prevalent as it is right now.</p><p>While I still experienced some of the mess that comes from being a young person on the internet, it’s mere child’s play compared to 2024.</p><p>Luckily for New Jersey parents, the Garden State is a pretty decent place for kids on the internet, according to a study performed by Cloudwards.</p><p>Portrait of family with two kids holding smart phones having electronic devices in hands texting sms using wi-fi 3G internet checking email searching contact. Apps concept</p><p>Deagreez</p><p>The analysis was done by looking at four groups of factors:</p><p><b>🔴 Online Safety Crimes &amp; Threats</b></p><p><b>🔴 Cyberbullying Prevalence</b></p><p><b>🔴 Cyberbullying and Online Safety Laws</b></p><p><b>🔴 Mental Health Support</b></p><h2>How safe are kids in New Jersey on the internet?</h2><p>The good ol’ Garden State ranks as the third safest U.S. state for children's online presence.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4JiaAR_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4JiaAR_0wPaO00X00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>gpointstudio</figcaption></figure><p>We received perfect online safety legislation scores and solid mental health support marks.</p><p>That said, our overall ranking was impacted by online safety threats, where we placed 33rd (with a lower rank indicating more cybercrime complaints received by the FBI), as well as a moderate showing in cyberbullying prevalence: we ranked 22nd nationally.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1e1gRp_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1e1gRp_0wPaO00X00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>insta_photos</figcaption></figure><p>These are five tips Cloudwards provides for parents:</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=32dCPo_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=32dCPo_0wPaO00X00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Canva / TSM Illustration</figcaption></figure><h2>Be careful about the information you share</h2><blockquote><p>Never post details like your address, school, phone number or date of birth anywhere online. The same goes for photos that may reveal details about you, like a photo of a certificate with your full name or your school’s name. Setting your social media profiles to “private” can help you stay safe.</p></blockquote><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4QFBw8_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4QFBw8_0wPaO00X00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Canva / TSM Illustration</figcaption></figure><h2>Never meet up with people you meet online</h2><blockquote><p>If someone asks you to meet them in real life, let a parent or guardian know right away.</p></blockquote><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4ZGPoa_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4ZGPoa_0wPaO00X00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Canva / TSM Illustration</figcaption></figure><h2>Don’t open links you receive via email or private messaging</h2><blockquote><p>These could be from people trying to get your personal information.</p></blockquote><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3YzHM1_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3YzHM1_0wPaO00X00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Canva / TSM Illustration</figcaption></figure><h2>Use strong passwords and never share them with anyone</h2><blockquote><p>Parents and guardians can increase security by making sure antivirus software, password managers and multi-factor authentication are up and running.</p></blockquote><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1prCpS_0wPaO00X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1prCpS_0wPaO00X00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Canva / TSM Illustration</figcaption></figure><h2>Regularly communicate with your child about the importance of online safety.</h2><blockquote><p>Let your child know that they can always talk to you if they have any questions or feel uncomfortable about something online.</p></blockquote><p><a href="https://www.cloudwards.net/states-for-kids-online-safety/">Cloudwards’ full study here</a>.</p><p>I think one thing that is undeniable is that the internet is to blame for some of the stupidest acts that younger people perform, here is just a handful of what has happened in recent years:</p><h2>Ignore these calls, NJ! Area codes you should never pick up</h2><p>While dodging scam calls can feel a bit like playing “Wack a mole” on the boardwalk, there are some area codes that are giant red flags, as collected by the <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/21686-how-to-avoid-impostor-scams">Better Business Bureau</a> and <a href="https://socialcatfish.com/scamfish/five-area-codes-you-should-never-answer/?fbclid=IwAR1KLj2BmEU9bAp6azBQHkTxgBlIZhG4vDy54gwXefAOeo7j7bnnRiBMHjs">socialcatfish.com</a>:</p><h2>Don't get fooled: Here's 24 scam texts I received in just one month</h2><p>Although some may be humorous, others appear legit. Here are 24 texts I received in just one month's time, as well as one I'm surprised I never got.</p><p>Spam texts are listed in the same order that was received.</p><p><i>The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5's Kylie Moore. Any opinions expressed are Kylie's own. You can follow Kylie on</i> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kyliem00re/">Instagram</a><i>.</i></p></div></body>

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NJ is one of the best states for kids’ online safety

I couldn’t be more grateful that I came of age before social media was as prevalent as it is right now. While I still experienced some of the mess that comes from being a young person on the internet, it’s mere child’s play compared to 2024. Luckily...