Wisconsin Gets 'D' For Internet Safety: Report

MILWAUKEE, WI — When it comes to protecting children from the top dangers in cyberspace, including cyberbullying, online predators and exposure to inappropriate content, a new study ranks Wisconsin near the bottom of U.S. states.

To grade each state, SafeWise looked at laws for both sexting and cyberbullying. Points were assigned to states based on the types of laws currently on the books and the consequences for violating those laws. You can read the state-by-state rankings and safety guide here.

If a state has a law proposed, partial points were granted. School policies and consequences were also factors. Letter grades were determined based on the total points, with higher points earning higher grades.

When it came to state-by-state rankings, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Texas all received "A" grades.

Wisconsin Online Safety Rankings

Overall Letter Grade
D

Laws Specify Cyberbullying
NO

Consequences for Online Harassment
YES

School Discipline Cyberbullying
YES

Discipline for Off-Campus Offenses
NO

Laws Address Sexting
NO

Misdemeanor Penalties for Sexting
NO

Felony Penalties for Sexting
NO

Safewise has a number of preventive safety tips online, but what happens if your child is targeted online?

Here are several steps Safewise recommends if your child has been targeted online:

• Let your child know it’s not their fault.
• Cut off communication with the predator.
• Change online credentials, including screen names, usernames, and passwords.
• Save screenshots or copies of messages and images from the predator.
• Report the activity to website administrators and law enforcement.
• Seek professional help for your child as appropriate.