Safe Surfin' Foundation

08/31/2026

Our friends at Bryce Tate’s Memorial Foundation are continuing to do something incredibly important: telling Bryce’s story so other children and families may be protected from s*xtortion.

Their recent interview on Dr. Phil is now available to watch, and we encourage every parent, caregiver, educator, and anyone who works with young people to take the time to see it.

Sextortion is not slowing down. Predators use fear, embarrassment, threats, and urgency to convince young people that they have no way out. That is why conversations about s*xtortion need to happen before a child ever finds themselves in that situation.

Children need to know:

💙 You can always come to a trusted adult.
💙 You are the victim — you are not in trouble.
💙 Do not pay or comply with additional demands.
💙 Do not face the threats alone.
💙 There are people and resources available to help you.

Bryce’s family has taken unimaginable heartbreak and turned it into a mission to protect other children. Every time Bryce’s story is shared, another parent may start a conversation. Another teenager may recognize a warning sign. Another child may realize that asking for help is an option.

At Safe Surfin’ Foundation, we are grateful to Bryce Tate’s Memorial Foundation for continuing to speak out, educate families, and make sure Bryce’s story is heard.

Please watch their Dr. Phil interview, share it with the people in your life, and then have the conversation with your children.

Because they are right:

One conversation can save a life. 💙

Learn more about Bryce’s story and their mission at www.justiceforbryce.com.

Dr. Phil discusses how young adults, specifically teens, are being ...

08/31/2026

Sextortion can happen quickly, and when it does, fear and shame can make a child believe there is nowhere to turn. There is.

Our friends at Bryce Tate’s Memorial Foundation recently shared an urgent reminder: since November 6, 2025, 52 local children and families have reached out to them for help with s*xtortion.

Fifty-two children and families. That number should get the attention of every parent, caregiver, educator, and trusted adult.

If a child is being threatened, blackmailed, or manipulated because of an intimate image, please make sure they hear these words:

You are the victim.
You are NOT in trouble.
You do NOT have to handle this alone.
Help is available.

Sextortion offenders often rely on panic, embarrassment, and fear to keep young people from asking for help. That’s why one of the most important things we can give our children is the confidence that they can come to us — no matter what happened, what they shared, or what someone is threatening to do.

At Safe Surfin’ Foundation, we encourage families to learn what to do before a crisis happens. Save and share Bryce Tate’s Memorial Foundation’s guidance. Talk with your children about s*xtortion. Make sure they know that if this ever happens to them or a friend, their first step should be to tell a trusted adult.

And most importantly: respond with help, not judgment.

We are grateful to Bryce Tate’s Memorial Foundation for turning unimaginable loss into action and for continuing to remind families of something we believe deeply:

One conversation can save a life. ❤️

If you or your child needs immediate assistance with s*xtortion, please reach out for help. You are not alone.

📌 PINNED FOR FAST REFERENCE

If you or your child is in the middle of being s*xtorted, please use the steps in the image below immediately.

Since November 6, 2025, 52 local children and families have reached out to us for help with s*xtortion.

You are the victim. You are NOT in trouble. Help is available.

Please DM our page if you need help finding the right resources. We are here to help.

Bryce Tate's Memorial Foundation
One conversation can save a life.
We love you Bryce!

08/31/2026

📱 Could Meta’s proposed settlement help set a new standard for protecting teens online?

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) recently highlighted an important conversation happening around teen safety on social media. Meta’s proposed settlement could establish stronger protections for teen accounts — protections that may ultimately influence expectations across the industry.

But there’s a bigger issue.

Without comprehensive federal legislation, the protections available to children and teens can vary depending on the platform they use, the state where they live, and even the outcome of individual court cases.

At Safe Surfin’ Foundation, we believe protecting children online shouldn’t depend on their ZIP code or which social media app they happen to use.

Technology will continue to change. Platforms will continue to evolve. Our responsibility to protect children must evolve with them.

That means bringing parents, educators, law enforcement, technology companies, policymakers, and child-safety organizations to the table — and continuing serious conversations about consistent, meaningful protections for young people online.

We appreciate the Family Online Safety Institute for raising this important policy discussion.

What do you think? Should Congress establish a national standard for protecting children and teens across social media platforms?

08/31/2026

📱 Who can see what your teen shares online?

It’s a simple question — but an important conversation.

Social media gives teens a place to connect with friends, express themselves, and be creative. But every photo, video, Story, and post also comes with a decision: Who gets access to this?

As our friends at Know2Protect recently shared, Snapchat has introduced additional privacy protections for users ages 13–15, limiting Stories and Spotlight posts to mutually accepted friends rather than one-sided followers or the general public.

That’s a positive step — but privacy settings alone can’t keep kids safe online.

At Safe Surfin’ Foundation, we encourage parents and caregivers to talk regularly with their teens about digital boundaries. Ask who they’re connecting with. Talk about what’s appropriate to share. Remind them that even content shared with friends can be saved, screenshotted, forwarded, or seen by someone they never intended.

Help your teen think before they post:

🔹 Who am I sharing this with?
🔹 Do I actually know and trust these people?
🔹 Does this reveal personal information about me?
🔹 Would I be comfortable if someone saved or shared it?
🔹 Could this post affect me later?

Giving teens the freedom to express themselves and teaching them how to protect themselves can go hand in hand.

Talk early. Talk often. Set digital boundaries together. ❤️

Thank you to Know2Protect for sharing this important reminder and for helping families start conversations that can make a difference.

Learn more about keeping kids safer online at safesurfin.org.

Talk with your teens about who gets access to what they share online. Creative expression matters, and so does being intentional about where it happens.

For users ages 13 to 15, Snapchat has introduced a more private profile experience where Stories and Spotlight posts are visible only to mutually accepted friends, not one-sided followers or the public.

Being on social media isn’t risk-free. This is a good opportunity to talk about setting and how to make thoughtful choices about what they share and who can see it.

Check out our Top 10 Tips2Protect for Teens to help start the conversation here: https://bit.ly/4wugBPH

08/31/2026

🎳 SAVE THE DATE, WHEELING, WV! 🎳

We’re hitting the lanes for a great cause — and we’d love for you to join us!

The Safe Surfin’ Foundation Bowling Tournament is coming to Dirty Dog Lanes in Wheeling, West Virginia, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Come out for an afternoon of bowling, friendly competition, and fun while supporting the Safe Surfin’ Foundation and our mission to educate and empower children, families, and communities to stay safer in today’s digital world.

🎳 Bowling Tournament
📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
⏰ 2:00 p.m.
📍 Dirty Dog Lanes
89 Edington Lane, Wheeling, WV

And there’s more — we’ll be giving away a bowling ball! 🎳

Registration and team details are coming soon, so for now, mark your calendar, start putting together your team, and help us spread the word!

Every fundraiser helps Safe Surfin’ continue providing internet safety education and resources at no cost to children, schools, families, and communities.

Strike up some fun. Support a great cause. Help us protect kids. ❤️

Stay tuned for registration information!

08/31/2026

Children don’t always disappear before trafficking begins.

Sometimes, the warning signs are already there — in a child’s behavior, relationships, online activity, or sudden changes that are easy to dismiss or misunderstand.

That’s why awareness matters.

Parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, school staff, and other trusted adults can be an important line of defense. **Recognizing that something isn’t right — and knowing how to respond — could help protect a child before exploitation goes any further.**

At Safe Surfin’ Foundation, we believe prevention begins with education. Learn the warning signs. Talk with the children in your life. Pay attention to who they’re communicating with online and offline. And when your instincts tell you something is wrong, don’t ignore them.

A child may not know how to tell you they’re in danger.

**Be the adult who notices. Be the adult who asks. Be the adult who acts.**

Save this post and share it with another parent, caregiver, educator, coach, or trusted adult. The more adults who know what to look for, the more children we can help protect.

👇 Learn more about the warning signs of child trafficking at the link in the comments.

Children are often targeted by traffickers, but the warning signs are frequently present long before a child is reported missing.

Parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, and other trusted adults have an opportunity to recognize those signs and respond early.

Save this post and share it with another caring adult. Learn what to look for by visiting the link in the comments. 👇

08/25/2026

Thousands of child s*x trafficking cases begin with one action: a report.
Your tip to NCMEC’s CyberTipline can help identify traffickers, protect children, and stop exploitation. If something feels wrong, report it at cybertipline.org.

08/21/2026

💙 Safe Surfin’ Foundation is proud to be represented at the 92nd Annual West Virginia Moose Association Convention!

Our Vice President and dedicated volunteer, Jim Hale, is on hand at this year’s convention, sharing the Safe Surfin’ Foundation mission and connecting with Moose members who share our commitment to protecting children and strengthening communities.

As a volunteer, Jim generously gives his time, energy, and heart to help us educate and empower children, families, and communities to stay safer in today’s digital world. His presence at the convention is another opportunity to raise awareness about the very real dangers children face online—and, most importantly, the steps we can all take to help keep them safe.

We’re grateful to Jim for representing Safe Surfin’ and to the West Virginia Moose Association for the opportunity to be part of its 92nd Annual Convention.

If you’re attending, stop by and say hello to Jim, learn more about our work, and find out how you can join us in creating a safer digital world for our children.

💙 Thank you, Jim, for carrying the Safe Surfin’ mission into communities wherever you go!

08/20/2026

📱 Healthy Screen Habits Start With Healthy Digital Boundaries

Screens are part of everyday life for our kids—but creating healthy boundaries around screen use can make a big difference.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory and Toolkit on the Harms of Screen Use, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, highlights how screen exposure can disrupt sleep, which can affect learning, mood, behavior, physical health, and overall development.

🧠 Nearly 50% of adolescents report losing track of how much time they spend on their phones.

Families can take simple steps to build healthier digital habits:

🍽️ Make mealtimes screen-free.
💤 Put devices away before bedtime.
📱 Avoid multitasking with screens.
⏸️ Encourage kids—and adults—to take breaks when needed.

At the Safe Surfin’ Foundation, we believe online safety isn't only about knowing the dangers kids may encounter online. It's also about helping families develop healthy, intentional relationships with technology.

Talk with your children about their screen habits. Set boundaries together, model those boundaries, and keep the conversation going.

Small changes can help create healthier habits—online and offline. 💙

🔗 View the free resource: https://bit.ly/4xaTaL6

The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory and Toolkit on the Harms of Screen Use published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shares a clear message: screen exposure can disrupt sleep, which affects learning, mood, behavior, physical health and overall development. 🧠

Nearly 50% of adolescents admit they lose track of the amount of time they spend on their phone.

This resource offers simple steps that can help build healthier habits such as:

🍽️ Screen-free mealtimes
💤 Device-free time before bed
📱 Avoiding multitasking with screens
⏸️ Taking a break when needed

Set and view the full free resource at: https://bit.ly/4xaTaL6