FLOYD, Va. — Virginia will observe its first official Internet Safety and Online Predator Awareness Day on August 1, 2026, following the passage of House Joint Resolution 36 during the 2026 General Assembly. The day will now be recognized across the Commonwealth every year on August 1.
To mark the milestone, Delegate Wendell Walker will host a press conference on Friday, July 31 at 9:30 a.m. at Bedford Hills Elementary School, 4330 Morningside Drive, Lynchburg, with educators, law enforcement, parents, and community leaders expected to attend.
The observance is designed to shine a light on the online threats facing children, families, and older adults — including online predators, cyberbullying, identity theft, scams, and digital exploitation. It builds on years of collaboration between the Safe Surfin’ Foundation, Delegate Wendell Walker, Virginia’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, educators, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations across the Commonwealth.
Safe Surfin’ Foundation President and Executive Director Eddie Worth called the day a statewide commitment to empowering families, supporting educators, and equipping young people to recognize danger online before they become victims. Founder and retired Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown, who led one of the nation’s first Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces, added that creating the day is a beginning rather than a finish line: “Awareness saves lives, and education remains our most powerful tool.”
Our own Beth Worth joined WDBJ7’s Here @ Home to talk about the observance and the Foundation’s work protecting students from online dangers. Watch and read WDBJ7’s full coverage here: Virginia observes first Internet Safety and Online Predator Awareness Day (WDBJ7).
How Virginians Can Take Part
The Safe Surfin’ Foundation encourages every Virginian to use the inaugural observance to:
- Practice responsible digital citizenship
- Talk with children regularly about online safety
- Learn to recognize the warning signs of grooming, cyberbullying, and online exploitation
- Report suspicious online activity and internet crimes
- Support community education and prevention initiatives