Kids & Family
Wisconsin Gets 'D' For Internet Safety: Report
Eight U.S. states received "A" grades for protecting children from online dangers. Here's why Wisconsin was ranked so poorly:
![Letter grades were determined based on several factors.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/22881893/20190919/120323/styles/patch_image/public/cell-phone-smartphone-shutterstock-160559990-1552483774-6112___19120155857.jpg)
MILWAUKEE, WI β 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.
Find out what's happening in Milwaukeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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
Find out what's happening in Milwaukeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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 itβs 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.
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