In today’s connected households, WiFi isn’t just a utility; it’s the digital heartbeat of family life. From remote work and online learning to gaming and streaming, the internet is woven into our daily routines. But as our homes become more digitally complex, the need to understand and engage in our families’ digital lives is earning headlines, especially spurred by recent political violence.
And this is beyond vague principles. How exactly does the average person use parental controls on WiFi networks? It’s not just a technical issue, but a deeply personal one on how to have those conversations.
“There is a matter of safety at the heart of this,” said Robin Ordan, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker whose unique practice encompasses both family therapy and business coaching, and their intersection.
“With AI, for instance, what is authentic, what content is appropriate for your child’s developmental age? How do you stay ahead of plagiarism, distinguish fact from fiction? We have these yawning portals into turbulent engineered environments that are unlike what families have faced before. And these portals are all over our home, in our child’s backpack and pocket. The controls, engagement, and shared conversations that need to go along with that have not been keeping up.”
I asked Robin about that point on engagement. Can we really run away from the web or sufficiently control it? Is there a realistic opportunity to approach it together, as families, with intention and clarity?
“Yes,” said Ordan. “And to get there, it’s more than I in my practice can tackle, or your pediatrician can, as much as we do have expertise, research, and resources. Companies involved in our digital infrastructure, in particular, but also families, need to step up at that family level, the business level, and the societal level.”
Looking at the Business Side
At Gale Strategies, we work with founders building technology that fits into real life, especially within complex enterprises. That includes Christian Lyndes, co-founder of Doc Labs, a company reimagining enterprise automation by bringing structured and unstructured data into a single, multi-agent, AI-native system. Doc Labs is starting with commercial construction, a massive industry bogged down by fragmented, document-heavy workflows and long underserved by legacy SaaS. Christian brings a rare perspective to this mission as both a technologist and a father.
“As a founder, I live in the future, building tools that push boundaries in construction,” says Lyndes. “But as a dad, I’m grounded in the present. I want to be there for my son. A lot of our day is digital, but being emotionally present matters just as much. That means thinking carefully about how technology enters our home and how we guide our kids through it.”
For Lyndes, managing digital life isn’t about restriction; it’s about presence.
“The tools we use should reflect our values,” he said. “They should help us have conversations, not just set limits. I want my child to feel empowered online, but also know they’re not alone in that space.”
This philosophy aligns with the work of Boundless Devices, creators of the MotoSync+ app and a new series of networking devices from Motorola. They’ve advocated for an approach to safety and parental controls that is rooted in simplicity, performance, and shared responsibility.
“We’re focused on making apps like MotoSync+ easy for everyone,” says Dariush Zand of Boundless Devices. “That means intuitive controls, mobile-first design, and seamless support for both work and home WiFi environments. You shouldn’t have to be a network engineer to manage your family’s digital life.”
MotoSync+ allows parents to set screen time limits, filter content, and even pause internet access with a tap, without sacrificing speed or performance.
“High performance and high control shouldn’t be mutually exclusive,” Zand adds. “We’ve designed MotoSync+ so families can have fast, reliable internet and the peace of mind that comes from knowing what’s happening on their network.”
In the world of gaming, where engagement is deep and often immersive, Arka Ray, co-founder of Popularium, sees a similar opportunity for families to lead with intention.
“Games are powerful spaces for learning and connection,” Ray says. “But they also generate data, about behavior, preferences, and time spent. Parents have a role not just in setting limits, but in helping kids understand what they’re giving and getting online. At Popularium, we believe players should own their data and understand its value. That’s a conversation families can, and should, start at home.”
Getting From Here to There
This shift, from restriction to collaboration, is key. The ability to control and restrict needs to be there, and needs to be usable. And then when parents can understand how to use these tools, they’re not just protecting their kids, they can have a basis for modeling responsible digital citizenship. We can show that the internet can be a place for curiosity, creativity, and connection when used wisely.
So, let’s get to where we can securely start thinking beyond the internet as something we need to escape. Let’s have the tools and a base from which to start thinking of it as something we navigate together. With the right equipment, the right mindset, and the right partners, we can make the web a place where families thrive.