In this episode from RSA Conference 2026, Marco Ciappelli sits down with Ben Halpert, founder of the non-profit organization Savvy Cyber Kids, to discuss the critical intersection of child development and technology.
In this episode from RSA Conference 2026, Marco Ciappelli sits down with Ben Halpert, founder of the non-profit organization Savvy Cyber Kids, to discuss the critical intersection of child development and technology.
Since its founding in 2007, Savvy Cyber Kids has been on a mission to provide parents and educators with the tools needed to guide children through the digital world. Ben explains why introducing technology too early can be detrimental to a child’s emotional preparedness and brain development, and why adult-led guidance is essential even when kids seem like "tech experts".
In this conversation, we explore:
The Evolution of Threats: Moving from MySpace and CRT monitors to 24/7 access via mobile devices.
Early Intervention: Why the "rhyme and picture book" approach works for children as young as three to teach concepts like online aliases and stranger safety.
Safe AI for Kids: Introducing a new partnership with Chaperone, a platform featuring "homework mode" and parental controls to ensure AI is a tool for learning, not a shortcut for thinking.
Going Global: How the organization has expanded internationally with materials translated into Spanish, German, French, and Hebrew.
Ben Halpert is a cybersecurity veteran with over 25 years of experience and the founder of Savvy Cyber Kids. He is dedicated to helping parents navigate the "wild" of the internet with positive, developmentally appropriate programming.
Savvy Cyber Kids Website: savvycyberkids.org
More RSAC 2026 Coverage: itspmagazine.com/rsac
Marco's Website: Marcociappelli.com
Marco Ciappelli: And here we are, after much anticipation for RSA Conference 2026. This marks the 11th year that Sean and I have covered this event, and we are back again. This is actually our first conversation of the event. I was very excited to speak with you because your work focuses on kids, society, and how technology affects our lives—topics very dear to my heart. To start, could you share a few words about who you are and how your organization began?
Ben Halpert: Sure. I’m Ben Halpert, and in 2007, I founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Savvy Cyber Kids. We produce educational materials for parents and educators to use with children starting as young as three years old.
Many tech companies push the narrative that children will fall behind if they don't have the latest tablets or apps. However, that isn’t how the human brain develops. We are seeing data suggesting that introducing technology too early can be detrimental, leading to lower testing scores and a lack of emotional preparedness for the world.
Marco Ciappelli: It seems that when technology is introduced too young, it almost does the thinking for them.
Ben Halpert: Exactly. Adults often watch a child use a device and think, "Wow, that child knows how to use technology better than I do". But they aren't experts; they simply have no inhibitions. They tap and swipe because they aren't afraid of breaking it or doing something wrong, unlike adults who have learned to be cautious.
Kids need our guidance to pull them back from technology and ensure they are using it in a way that is developmentally appropriate.
Marco Ciappelli: Let’s talk about the origin story. You officially started in 2007, but you were working on this even earlier. Back then, social media was barely a factor, yet you already saw a problem that has only been amplified since.
Ben Halpert: I’ve been in the cybersecurity industry for over 25 years. Back in 2002, I realized we were protecting employees, physical assets, intellectual property, and customer data, but most people I knew weren't in IT, let alone cybersecurity. I sat down, finished my lunch, and immediately put together a PowerPoint presentation titled "Threats Your Kids are Up Against". I spent the next few years presenting that to local Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) in the Atlanta area.
Marco Ciappelli: How has the landscape changed since then? Now we have AI and devices we can’t even open to fix. Has the evolution of technology changed your tools, or is a physical booklet still the best approach?
Ben Halpert: What has truly changed is the availability of threat actors. In the early days, we dealt with MySpace and AOL or Yahoo chat rooms. Back then, you’d sit your child at a large CRT monitor in a shared family room, like the kitchen.
Now, those same individuals looking to cause harm have 24/7 access to our kids through the devices in their pockets. It’s on us as parents to set boundaries—like ensuring phones and tablets don't go to bed with them—not because the child did something wrong, but because someone is always reaching out.
Marco Ciappelli: You provide materials for kids, parents, and educators. Tell us about the feedback you get from the children.
Ben Halpert: We have a rhyming picture book series for kids starting at age three. It teaches them the fun side of technology while introducing safety concepts, like "stranger danger" online. We teach them to use a "Savvy Cyber Kid" name—an online alias—so they don't give away their real identity or location to strangers.
If you teach these concepts in those early formative years, they become ingrained. It’s like learning a language; if they are raised with it, they become fluent without it feeling like homework.
Marco Ciappelli: It’s about explaining the "why," not just saying "don't".
Ben Halpert: Exactly. It’s like teaching a child to cross the street. You look left and right because if you don't, you could get hurt.
We are also excited to introduce safe AI for kids through our new partnership with Chaperone. While some governments are introducing AI in kindergarten without considering human development, our platform provides parental controls. It includes a "homework mode" that guides kids on how to find an answer rather than just giving it to them, and it gives parents full visibility into what their kids are asking.
Marco Ciappelli: A controlled environment for knowledge. It’s exciting to see how this keeps evolving. Where can people find more information?
Ben Halpert: Please visit us at savvycyberkids.org. Our materials are actually international now, with books translated into Spanish, German, French, and Hebrew. We are always looking for volunteers to help us translate our stories into more languages.
Marco Ciappelli: Thank you, Ben. Stay tuned for more content from RSA Conference 2026 at itspmagazine.com/rsac. Take care, everyone.