The FBI’s Safe Online Surfing (SOS) program is officially shutting down on June 1, 2026. After more than a decade of teaching kids how to stay safe on the internet, the website at sos.fbi.gov will go permanently offline — and with it, one of the most trusted cybersecurity education tools for young people in America.

Since its launch in 2012, FBI Safe Online Surfing has reached more than 1.6 million students across thousands of schools nationwide. The free, gamified program gave kids in grades 3 through 8 a structured, age-appropriate way to learn about online threats — from phishing emails to cyberbullying to password hygiene. National competitions made it engaging, and the FBI’s brand gave it instant credibility with school districts.

Now, families and educators are scrambling to fill the gap. With children facing more sophisticated cyber threats than ever — AI-generated scams, deepfake manipulation, and targeted phishing on gaming platforms — losing FBI SOS couldn’t come at a worse time.

But there are alternatives. In this guide, we’ll break down what the FBI SOS shutdown means, why internet safety education matters more than ever in 2026, and the best replacement programs for schools and families. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or school administrator, here’s exactly what you should do before June 1.

What Was the FBI Safe Online Surfing Program?

The FBI Safe Online Surfing program — commonly called FBI SOS — was a free, web-based education initiative run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Designed for students in grades 3 through 8, it taught children how to navigate the internet safely through interactive, gamified lessons.

Here’s what made the program stand out:

• Gamified learning: Students progressed through grade-specific “islands,” each covering topics like cyberbullying, privacy, digital footprint, and recognizing online predators. The game-like format kept kids engaged in ways that traditional lectures couldn’t.
• National competitions: Schools across the country competed in quarterly challenges, turning internet safety into a team activity. Top-performing schools earned recognition from the FBI — a powerful motivator for kids and educators alike.
• FBI credibility: In a landscape crowded with edtech tools, the FBI’s name carried weight. School districts trusted it. Parents felt confident about it. And kids thought it was genuinely cool to “work with the FBI.”
• Easy school integration: Teachers could sign up their entire class, assign lessons, and track progress — all at no cost. No grants to write, no software to install, no IT department approvals needed.

So why is it shutting down? The closure is part of broader federal budget restructuring and program cuts across government agencies in 2026. The FBI has not announced a replacement initiative. When sos.fbi.gov goes dark on June 1, all program materials, student accounts, and lesson content will become inaccessible.

For the 1.6 million students who used the platform — and the teachers who built digital citizenship lessons around it — this is a significant loss. But it’s not the end of internet safety education. Not by a long shot.

Why Internet Safety Education for Kids Matters More Than Ever

If anything, the FBI SOS shutdown highlights a growing disconnect: the threats facing children online are escalating, while the educational infrastructure to combat those threats is shrinking.

Consider what kids are up against in 2026:

AI-powered scams are targeting younger victims. Generative AI has made phishing emails, fake websites, and social engineering attacks dramatically more convincing. The poorly spelled Nigerian prince emails of a decade ago have been replaced by polished, personalized messages that can fool adults — let alone a 10-year-old. Voice cloning and deepfake video have added entirely new threat vectors that didn’t exist when FBI SOS launched.

Gaming platforms are a top attack surface for kids. Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Discord are where children spend hours every day — and scammers know it. Free V-Bucks generators, fake Robux giveaways, and account-stealing links disguised as trade offers are rampant. These scams don’t look like traditional phishing to most kids (or parents). They look like opportunities.

Smishing is exploding. Text-based phishing — smishing — has surged as kids get smartphones at younger ages. Fake delivery notifications, “your account has been compromised” alerts, and prize-winning messages arrive directly in their text inbox, bypassing email filters entirely.

The numbers back this up. The FBI’s own Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported over $12.5 billion in losses from internet crimes in its most recent annual report, with victims under 20 representing one of the fastest-growing demographics. Cybercrime targeting minors has increased year over year, with social media exploitation, sextortion, and financial fraud all on the rise.

Here’s the critical gap: parental controls and monitoring software are not the same as education. Screen time limits don’t teach a child to recognize a phishing link. Content filters don’t explain why you shouldn’t share personal information in a Roblox chat. The tools that protect children from the internet are not the same as tools that teach children how to use the internet safely.

That’s the void FBI SOS filled. And that’s the void we need to fill again — fast.

Best Alternatives to FBI SOS for Schools and Families

The good news: the FBI SOS shutdown doesn’t leave families and schools with nothing. Several programs — both free and paid — offer overlapping coverage. Here are the best alternatives available right now, with honest assessments of what each does well and where it falls short.

1. Google Be Internet Awesome / Interland (Free)

Google’s Be Internet Awesome is the closest free equivalent to FBI SOS in terms of accessibility and brand recognition. The centerpiece is Interland, a web-based game that teaches kids ages 7-12 about online safety through four themed worlds: sharing with care, spotting fakes, securing secrets, and being kind online.

• ISTE-certified curriculum with lesson plans for educators
• Free, no sign-up required for the game itself
• Available in multiple languages
• The “Be Internet Awesome” pledge gives families a starting framework

Gaps: No native mobile app (browser-only). No phishing simulation — kids learn concepts but don’t practice identifying real-world scam examples. No family-wide component for parents and grandparents. Content hasn’t been significantly updated to address AI-generated threats.

2. Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship Curriculum (Free)

Common Sense Media offers the most comprehensive free digital citizenship curriculum available, with over 140 lesson plans spanning K-12. Their “Don’t Feed the Phish” lesson is particularly relevant as an FBI SOS replacement.

• Standards-aligned lessons covering privacy, media literacy, cyberbullying, digital footprint, and more
• Teacher-friendly with discussion guides, handouts, and assessments
• Family resources including conversation starters and tip sheets
• Widely adopted — already used in thousands of schools

Gaps: Primarily educator-focused. No interactive app or game for kids to use independently. Lesson plans require a teacher to facilitate. No hands-on phishing practice or simulation.

3. LanternPhish (Freemium)

LanternPhish takes a fundamentally different approach from FBI SOS — instead of teaching internet safety concepts through curriculum, it lets families practice spotting real-world scams in a safe, simulated environment.

• Interactive phishing simulations that mimic the actual scams kids (and adults) encounter
• Native iOS and Android app — no browser-only limitations
• Designed for the whole family — kids, parents, AND grandparents can all practice together
• Covers modern threats including AI-generated phishing, smishing, and gaming scams
• Hands-on practice — the one thing FBI SOS was most criticized for lacking

What makes it different: Most internet safety programs teach kids about phishing. LanternPhish lets them practice identifying it. It’s the difference between reading about how to ride a bike and actually getting on one. And because it’s designed for families — not just kids — parents and grandparents can build their own skills alongside their children.

Gaps: Focused specifically on phishing and scam identification rather than the full digital citizenship curriculum that programs like Common Sense Media cover. Freemium model means some features require a subscription.

4. KnowBe4 Children’s Internet Safety Activity Kit (Free)

Enterprise cybersecurity giant KnowBe4 offers a free downloadable activity kit for children, including workbooks, coloring pages, and a “Spot the Phish” game. They’ve also created cybersecurity-themed content for Roblox, meeting kids where they already spend time.

• Backed by one of the world’s leading cybersecurity training companies
• Engaging format with games, puzzles, and activities
• Free to download — no account required
• Roblox integration reaches kids on familiar platforms

Gaps: One-time-use materials rather than an ongoing program. No progress tracking. No family features. More of a supplementary resource than a replacement for a structured program like FBI SOS.

5. Protect Young Eyes (Paid)

Protect Young Eyes is a well-respected organization offering 500+ lessons through their app, covering everything from social media safety to device settings. They’ve testified before the U.S. Senate on children’s online safety — adding significant credibility.

• Comprehensive content library updated regularly
• Community-driven with active parent forums
• Device-specific guides for setting up parental controls on every major platform
• Expert-led presentations available for schools and churches

Gaps: Primarily parent-facing — content is designed for adults to learn, then teach their children. No interactive kid-facing component or simulation. Subscription required for full access.

6. CyberNut (School Districts Only)

CyberNut is arguably the closest direct replacement for FBI SOS in a school setting. It’s a K-12 phishing simulation and cybersecurity education platform designed specifically for school districts.

• Automated phishing simulations sent to student email accounts
• Gamified learning with points, leaderboards, and school-wide competitions
• Admin dashboard for teachers and IT staff to track progress
• Curriculum-aligned content for different grade levels

Gaps: B2B only — not available for individual families. Requires school district procurement. Pricing varies by district size. No home or family component.

What Parents Should Do Right Now

Whether your child used FBI SOS at school or you’re just learning about internet safety education for the first time, here are concrete steps you should take before June 1, 2026:

1. Talk to your kids about what they’ve learned. If your child participated in FBI SOS, sit down and ask them what they remember. What topics did they cover? What stuck with them? This conversation alone is valuable — it reinforces what they learned and shows them you take internet safety seriously.

2. Set up a family internet safety practice. Pick one evening a month as your family’s “scam spotting night.” Review real examples of phishing emails, suspicious texts, and fake social media messages together. Make it collaborative, not punitive. The goal is building a habit, not creating fear.

3. Download at least one educational tool. Whether it’s LanternPhish for hands-on phishing practice, Google Interland for gamified learning, or KnowBe4’s activity kit for younger children — get something installed and try it together this week. Not next month. This week.

4. Update your family’s rules for online interactions. Review what apps your kids use, what information they share, and how they handle messages from strangers. If these conversations haven’t happened recently, they’re overdue. AI has changed the threat landscape faster than most family rules have kept up.

5. Don’t rely solely on parental controls. Filters and screen time limits are important safeguards, but they’re not education. A child who understands why a link is dangerous is far better protected than a child who’s simply blocked from clicking it — because eventually, they’ll encounter threats in environments you can’t control.

What Schools Should Do Before June 1

For educators and administrators, the FBI SOS shutdown requires proactive planning — not reactive scrambling in September. Here’s your action plan:

1. Download and archive FBI SOS materials immediately. Before sos.fbi.gov goes offline on June 1, save any lesson plans, activity sheets, teacher guides, or program materials your school has relied on. There’s been no confirmation that content will be archived by the Internet Archive or any government repository. Once the site goes dark, these materials may be gone permanently.

2. Evaluate replacement programs now — not in the fall. Waiting until the new school year to find a replacement means losing months of coverage. Start vetting options during the current semester. Run pilot programs if possible. The alternatives listed above — Google Be Internet Awesome, Common Sense Media’s curriculum, and CyberNut for districts with budget — are the strongest candidates for direct replacement.

3. Consider tools that extend to families at home. One limitation of FBI SOS was that it lived entirely in the school environment. Kids practiced internet safety at school but went home to unstructured internet use. Programs like LanternPhish that families can use together help bridge that gap — turning internet safety from a school subject into a life skill.

4. Update your digital citizenship curriculum. If your school’s internet safety education was built around FBI SOS, this is an opportunity to modernize. Incorporate lessons on AI-generated content, deepfakes, voice cloning scams, and platform-specific threats (especially gaming and social media). The threat landscape of 2026 looks nothing like it did when FBI SOS launched in 2012.

5. Communicate with parents. Send a notice home explaining that FBI SOS is ending and what your school is doing to replace it. Include recommendations for what families can do at home. This builds trust and creates a unified approach between school and home.

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly is the FBI SOS program shutting down?

The FBI Safe Online Surfing program is scheduled to shut down on June 1, 2026. The website at sos.fbi.gov will go offline on that date, and all program materials, student accounts, and competition records will become inaccessible.

Will FBI SOS content be archived anywhere?

As of this writing, there has been no official announcement about archiving FBI SOS content. The Internet Archive (archive.org) may capture some pages, but there’s no guarantee. If your school relies on specific lesson materials, download and save them now.

Is there a free replacement for FBI SOS?

Yes. Google Be Internet Awesome (including the Interland game) and Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship curriculum are both completely free and well-established. For individual families, KnowBe4’s Children’s Activity Kit is also free to download. LanternPhish offers a free tier as well.

What’s the best replacement that includes phishing practice?

For families, LanternPhish is the only option that provides interactive phishing simulations in a family-friendly app. For schools, CyberNut offers phishing simulations designed specifically for K-12 students (but requires district-level procurement).

My child’s school used FBI SOS. What should I ask the school?

Ask your school’s administration: (1) What program will replace FBI SOS for internet safety education? (2) When will the replacement be implemented? (3) Are there resources families can use at home to continue the learning? This signals to the school that parents care about this topic and expect continuity.

The Way Forward: From Institutional Programs to Family Empowerment

The FBI Safe Online Surfing program was a genuine success story — 1.6 million students learned internet safety skills they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Its shutdown is a real loss, and we shouldn’t pretend it isn’t.

But the broader lesson here is important: internet safety education can’t depend on any single institution. Government programs get cut. School budgets fluctuate. The only constant is the family.

The alternatives listed in this guide — from Google’s free games to Common Sense Media’s curriculum to LanternPhish’s phishing simulations — give families and schools more options than ever before. The tools are better. The simulations are more realistic. The coverage extends from young children to grandparents.

What’s needed now is action. Don’t wait until June 1 to figure out your plan. Don’t assume someone else will handle your family’s internet safety education. And don’t assume that parental controls alone will keep your kids safe from threats that are getting smarter every month.

Start today. Download a tool. Have a conversation. Practice together.

Because the scammers targeting your family aren’t waiting until June.