Somebody’s Watching Episode 5: Keeping Kids Safe Online

As kids spend more of their lives on phones, social platforms, and AI chatbots, the question of how to keep them safe online has never been more urgent. In this episode, we dig into the real risks young people face on the internet today from predatory contact and grooming tactics, to algorithm-driven content that can pull kids toward harmful material, to the newer wrinkle of AI companions and chatbots that some children are forming attachments to. We also look at what’s actually working: the tools parents and schools have at their disposal, the platform-side safety features tech companies are (and aren’t) building, and the policy fights playing out over age verification and kids’ online safety legislation. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or just someone who builds the products kids end up using, this conversation is a practical look at where the danger really lies and what meaningful protection looks like in 2026.

Watch the episode here: