In our recent Cyber Safety Cop webinar, The Connected Childhood: Raising Kids in Today’s Digital Playground, digital safety expert Clayton Cranford walked parents through how gaming, social media, and AI are reshaping childhood. He explained why a smartphone is not a toy but a portal to an adult world, and he shared a clear plan for introducing tech later, setting boundaries earlier, and keeping family connection at the center.

Today’s kids are spending less time in backyards and more time in online spaces. Gaming platforms, social media, and group chats have become the new gathering places where friendships form, risks emerge, and childhood unfolds on screens instead of sidewalks.

This “digital playground” offers opportunities for learning and creativity, but it also exposes children to challenges they are not developmentally prepared to handle. Understanding what they face and how to guide them thr ...