Keeping families connected and protected in a digital world
A message from: Verizon
Verizon is empowering parents and caregivers with tools that help keep your family safe and provide peace of mind.
Why it's important: As families navigate an increasingly digital world, creating healthy relationships with technology is more critical than ever.
- Today, parents have a lot more to monitor. The average Verizon internet household now has 18 connected devices, according to Verizon's 2024 Consumer Connections Report.
- Plus, parents are increasingly concerned about safety. About 63% of parents feel anxious when they don't have immediate access to their child's location, according to a recent Verizon survey.
The solution: Verizon Family is a game-changer for digital safety. It offers innovative tools to keep loved ones connected and protected — all from one app.
Verizon Family provides essential safety features for caregivers, including:
- Safe Walk with SOS: Provides real-time location sharing to emergency contacts for added security.
- Location monitoring: Allows caregivers to monitor their dependents' whereabouts and set alerts for arrivals and departures.
- Call and text monitoring: Helps caregivers foster open communication by providing insights into calls and texts made over the Verizon network.
The positive news: Verizon Family is already helping parents take proactive steps to help safeguard digital experiences. According to 2024 Verizon's Consumer Connections Report:
- 62% of parents and other caregivers used filters to block objectionable content.
- 54% of parents and other caregivers restricted access to certain social media apps.
Worth a mention: Verizon also offers a range of tools aimed at promoting online safety and responsible technology use, including the Gizmo Watch line of kids' smartwatches.
- Parents and other caregivers make an average of 3.3 million calls per month to children wearing Gizmo watches, underscoring the importance of safe, reliable communication.
Okay, but: Digital safety isn't just a priority for children — it's essential for vulnerable adults, too. Older adults are increasingly at risk in a more connected world.
- Nearly 3 in 4 individuals over 50 report being targeted for cybercrimes, according to AARP.
- And in 2023 alone, Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to online scams — with an average victim losing over $33,000 — according to the FBI.
That's why Verizon will extend its upcoming digital wellness initiatives to seniors and their caregivers, helping ensure they have the tools to navigate technology securely.
The details: Verizon is expanding its commitment to digital wellness, equipping youth, parents, caregivers and older adults with the skills to navigate technology responsibly.
Beyond connectivity, Verizon is focused on fostering a healthy relationship with digital tools through free, expert-backed programs.
- For K-12 educators and students: Verizon is partnering with Discovery Education to provide digital citizenship resources to schools.
- Verizon is also conducting a research study with Sesame Workshop and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center focused on children's digital wellness, to guide the creation of future digital wellness programs for kids.
- For parents and caregivers: Verizon will offer free training on fostering healthy digital habits in partnership with My Digital TAT2.
- For older adults: Verizon will provide digital literacy resources and cybersecurity training in partnership with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), from AARP.
Parents can also get free tips, advice and research-based strategies from the experts to navigate the digital world at verizon.com/parenting.
By providing practical knowledge and best practices, Verizon is helping to ensure that people of all ages can use technology with confidence and awareness.
The takeaway: Digital safety is more than a feature — it's a necessity. That's why Verizon Family offers essential safety features, helping families and caregivers stay connected and protected.