Michigan Ranked One Of The Worst in US For Children’s Online Safety

As a parent in Michigan, it's impossible not to feel a little uneasy about the world our children are growing up in—especially when it comes to online safety. According to a report from Cloudwards, Michigan ranks 45th overall in online safety threats. Let's be honest- we as parents have every reason to be concerned. Whether it's cyberbullying, harassment, or more severe crimes against children, the internet presents a number of risks we can't afford to ignore.

Michigan ranks 40th in cybercrime complaints reported to the FBI, and these complaints include some of the most troubling issues, like threats of violence and crimes against children. It’s unsettling to know that our state isn’t doing better when it comes to protecting young people in the digital world.

Even more alarming is Michigan’s 33rd-place rank when it comes to cyberbullying. With nearly half of children reporting they've been victims of cyberbullying (45.50%), and over 16% of high school students affected by electronic bullying, it’s clear that online harassment is a widespread issue in our state.

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Yet, when it comes to laws meant to protect our kids, Michigan still has work to do. For instance, Michigan lacks specific sexting laws, and 2023 legislation aimed at better regulating social media use for children didn’t pass.

On a positive note, Michigan ranks 18th in mental health support, with a decent availability of child psychologists and therapists. This is reassuring because online threats don’t just harm kids physically—they can deeply affect their mental health as well.

As a parent of a young child, this information hits hard. Our children will inevitably access the internet, but it’s up to us, as Michigan parents, to advocate for stronger protections and be vigilant about their online experiences. Safety, both online and offline, must be our priority.