It's back-to-school season — new backpacks, new schedules, and for most kids, a new (or renewed) relationship with screens. Between school-issued Chromebooks, tablets at home, and apps like YouTube and Roblox, today's students are online earlier and more often than any generation before them. And that comes with risks parents can't always see. 
Nationally, cyberbullying among teens has more than doubled over the last two decades — climbing from about 19% in 2007 to nearly 55% today, according to longitudinal research from the Cyberbullying Research Center. It's not just a high school problem anymore, either: the CDC reports that roughly one in ten elementary schools already deals with bullying incidents on a weekly basis. With nearly all kids ages 3 to 18 now having some form of internet access, even the youngest students are within reach of cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online strangers.
As a local, member-owned cooperative, Paulding Putnam believes protecting our community starts with protecting our kids — and starting September 9, that commitment gets a powerful new tool.
Introducing Bark, Free with ParentProtect
Beginning September 9, 2026, Paulding Putnam will include Bark — one of the country's most trusted parental control and online safety platforms — free of charge with every ParentProtect fiber internet package. No add-on fee, no separate subscription. Just one more way we're looking out for the families we serve. 
Bark monitors 30+ apps and platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, and uses smart detection to flag warning signs like cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, and violence — without exposing every private message your child sends. It also gives parents the ability to:
- Filter and block inappropriate websites and content
- Set screen time limits by device
- Get location alerts when your child arrives at or leaves a chosen place
Bark already helps protect millions of children nationwide and is used by nearly 1,300 school districts across the country.
What Comes with ParentProtect
ParentProtect is our fiber internet package, available at 500x500 Mbps or 1 Gig speeds, built for households that want fast, reliable internet and peace of mind. It includes:
- Free managed Wi-Fi with built-in cybersecurity protection
- Free standard installation
- No contracts, no hidden fees
- Local, member-first service from a cooperative that's called this community home since 1935
We're Showing Up in Person, Too
You don't have to be a Paulding Putnam member to get help starting this conversation. This August, our team is attending open house events at local schools across our service area — talking directly with parents and teachers, answering questions, and sharing resources about keeping kids safe online. Come find us at our table and say hello.
Why This Matters to Us
We've spent nearly 90 years powering homes and connecting communities across northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana. That mission doesn't stop at the power line or the fiber cable — it means showing up for the things that matter to the families we serve, including the safety of their kids online.
Talk to your kids tonight about what apps they're using. Then come see us at an open house, or visit the link below to learn more about Bark and ParentProtect.