Everloop and McAfee Partner to Teach Online Safety for Kids

Children are using the internet at younger ages than ever before. From classroom computers and homework research to browsing the web on smartphones and tablets, kids encounter a wide range of online experiences—and potential risks—every day. To help families and schools address those risks, companies and organizations are developing age-appropriate solutions that make it easier for children to explore the web securely. One notable example is Everloop, a moderated social network designed specifically for children 13 and under.

Co-founded by digital parenting expert Hilary DeCesare, Everloop was built to give children a safe, privacy-focused space to enjoy the positive aspects of online social interaction. By combining child-centered design with active moderation and privacy protections, Everloop aims to allow kids to learn social skills online while minimizing exposure to inappropriate content, strangers, and other common internet dangers.

Recognizing that tools alone are not enough, Everloop has partnered with security technology leader McAfee to launch a free educational initiative focused on online safety for children. The program—McAfee Cares: Online Safety for Kids—mobilizes volunteers to deliver lessons in classrooms that teach school-age children practical strategies for staying safe and respectful online. These sessions emphasize digital citizenship, privacy protection, password safety, and how to respond to cyberbullying and other threats.

The partnership combines Everloop’s kid-safe social platform with McAfee’s classroom outreach to reinforce online safety lessons both in person and online. Together, the two organizations planned to extend safety messages to tens of thousands of students; their collaboration was expected to reach more than 50,000 schoolchildren by 2013. By coordinating classroom education with hands-on, monitored social experiences, the program aims to make online safety lessons more memorable and actionable for young users.

Parents and educators report that children are increasingly aware of online risks. On Everloop, for example, children regularly share their concerns about using the internet. A recent Everloop poll identified top worries among kids: stranger danger (22%), privacy protection (20%), and cyberbullying (13%). These insights help shape the educational content delivered through McAfee Cares and inform the way Everloop designs its safety features.

“We are dedicated to children’s safety and recognize the need for free, readily available online safety education—not only for concerned parents but also in response to what kids themselves are saying,” says Hilary DeCesare. “Children on Everloop express their online fears, and that direct feedback helps us create better tools and educational programs.”

Michael Busselen, McAfee’s Senior Vice President of Global External Affairs, emphasizes the importance of teaching internet safety as a basic life skill: “Just as we teach children to look both ways before crossing the street, children should learn to make smart choices online. Through McAfee Cares—Online Safety for Kids—we mobilize employees and volunteers to visit classrooms and teach kids simple, positive steps to use digital devices safely.”

Online safety education equips students with practical habits and critical thinking skills that help them navigate the internet responsibly. Key topics covered in classroom sessions include recognizing and avoiding risky online interactions, protecting personal information, setting strong passwords, being a respectful digital citizen, and getting help when faced with cyberbullying or suspicious activity.

Schools, parents, and community organizations can use a combination of moderated platforms, structured lessons, and ongoing conversations to reinforce safe online behavior. Age-appropriate social networks like Everloop offer a controlled environment where children can practice interacting online while educators and parents guide their learning. Complementing these platforms with classroom programs such as McAfee Cares builds a more complete approach to child online safety.

As technology continues to evolve, education remains a critical component of protecting children online. Parents and schools that invest in online safety education—paired with tools designed for kids—help prepare children to enjoy the benefits of the internet while minimizing exposure to harm.

For information about the organizations mentioned, you can look up McAfee Cares: Online Safety for Kids and Everloop to learn more about their classroom programs and child-safe social features.