As students prepare to swap classrooms for living rooms during the upcoming holiday break, local officials are warning that the most dangerous place for a child, may be sitting right in the palm of their hand. In a direct response to rising digital threats, the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office launched a massive initiative on Monday to give every family in the county free access to cyber security tools.
The partnership, which includes tech safety platform, Parent ProTech, aim to secure devices before the inevitable spike in screen time that a company school vacations.
Effective immediately, the JWB is covering the cost for all Pinellas County parents, grandparents, and citizens to access a full year of Parent ProTech.
The platform serves as a dynamic resource library, offering video guides on setting up parental controls and navigating complex topics like artificial intelligence, social media, trends, and hidden apps used by predators.
During the announcement, JWB interim CEO Michael Mikurak drew a sharp contrast between the threats of the past and the digital reality of 2025.
“When JWB was created 80 years ago, ‘stranger danger’ meant someone in a van offering candy to lure children away,” Mikurak said. “Today, cyber bullies, human traffickers, and online predators can enter homes 24/7 through a child’s phone, computer, or gaming system, putting them in imminent danger.”
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri reinforced the urgency of the program, using a stark analogy for parents who leave devices unmonitored. “It’s like leaving your child’s bedroom window open, or your doors unlocked,” Gualtieri said. “Together, let’s put online predators on notice.”
The push for digital safety is driven by data that paints a concerning picture of modern childhood. Studies cited by the coalition indicate that children are averaging between 8 and 11 hours of screen time daily, a figure that often climbs when school is out.
Beyond the immediate risk of predation, the initiative is a component of the JWB’s broader Children’s Mental Health Initiative. Officials pointed to research correlating high social media use with a rise in cyberbullying and youth suicide. Data shows suicide rates among children aged 10 to 14 shot up by 95% between 2000 and 2018, a crisis the U.S. Surgeon General has linked to the digital environment.
The program is designed to move beyond simple warnings by providing actionable tools that evolve as fast as technology does. Parent ProTech updates its subscribers on emerging digital dangers, ensuring parents aren’t fighting yesterday’s battles.
Residents looking to utilize the resource can create their free account immediately by visiting app.parentprotech.com/jwb.
Read the article as originally published at https://www.tampafp.com/pinellas-county-leaders-unite-to-hand-families-free-defense-against-online-predators/