Summer has a way of loosening the rules, doesn't it? Bedtimes creep later, routines become more flexible, and if we're being honest, screens often fill more of those long, unstructured days than we originally planned. That was certainly true in our house this summer. My son loves animals, so YouTube became his go-to for wildlife videos, ocean creatures, and fascinating facts about nature. One afternoon, while I was nearby, I started listening to a video that immediately made me stop what I was doing.

The creator enthusiastically unboxed rare and exotic sea creatures he claimed to have purchased on the "dark web." He talked about it as if it were an exclusive online marketplace—mysterious, exciting, and full of incredible finds. There was no mention of the criminal activity, exploitation, or dangers behind it. To a curious child, it sounded less like a dangerous corner of the internet and more like a secret club.

That moment became an unexpected parenting opportunity. We paused the vi...