Kalish Studies Safety of Kids’ Online Presence

Adina Kalish has worked on all sides of the editorial desk, from freelance magazine writer to producer, before landing in public relations, where she has worked for the past 20 years. Now, she is the full-time senior director of media relations for Bark Technologies, an online safety company (started and originally based in Atlanta) that keeps kids safer online and in real life.

At Bark, she scours the news daily for stories and emerging trends about which parents and families should know; then, she connects her experts with journalists, and shares safety products with consumer reporters to inform them on how kids spend time online, and how they can be kept safer.

Currently, Bark helps protect more than 7.5 million children from online dangers, including cyberbullying, online predation, violent content, suicidal ideation, self-harm, threats of school violence, and more.

Kalish said, “It’s very heavy work sometimes, but the stories we share with journalists are important as they serve as wake-up calls to families who often have no idea what their kids are doing online or how tech impacts their mental health. Personally, even though I work in tech, I find it all so intimidating, so it’s important for us to create and nurture supportive communities to help parents who are navigating parenting in a tech world — which is pretty much any parent!”

The research at Bark ranges from publishing a yearly annual report of data, which analyzes billions of data points and also ranks apps for dangerous content, along with providing resources and important conversation starters for families. They partner with the CDC on important research and align with organizations like the Organization for Social Media Safety, Protect Young Eyes, and other thought leaders in the online safety space for children.

One of the most powerful tools Kalish shared is a documentary where Bark was featured in, “Childhood 2.0.” Bark screened this film nationwide at no cost. Their Parenting in a Tech World Facebook group that she moderates currently has more than 650,000 members and is an appropriate forum to ask questions or hear what other parents, educators, and experts are saying about the ever-evolving landscape. Much of the work that she does at Bark can be found in their newsroom.

Kalish commends the power of parents modeling good behavior. She confesses to being guilty of being on her phone too much; but she tries to keep it in check, especially at the dinner table. She stated, “Modeling by example is key. Also, healthy families have the hard conversations, again and again and again. Healthy families come in many shapes and sizes. It doesn’t matter if you have two moms or two dads, or extended family members raising your kids. What matters is how you teach by example and the conversations you continue to have. “

One prominent concept at Bark centers around the “NMK” syndrome (Not My Kid). She relayed, “Maybe we think that because we send our kids to day school, or we live in certain communities, or have achieved a certain level of success, that our kids are somehow immune to the hardest stuff happening online. They’re not. Talk to them about it. Even if you’re annoying.”

Kalish’s daughters went to both public and private schools and were moved around a good bit. She said,” Every kid is different, so there’s never a ‘one size fits all’ with parenting, or with school. We are lucky to have so many amazing choices in Atlanta, especially Jewish day schools. Like with tech, Jewish values are important to model ourselves and to pass on to our kids — regardless of what we believe. Things like respect, community, learning, repairing the world, giving charity, volunteering, and honoring Shabbat — these all help us become better humans. And honestly, the world could use more of that!”

Kalish grew up in Sandy Springs and attended The Hebrew Academy, Riverwood High School, and Yeshiva High School. She then attended Washington University in St. Louis and received a master’s degree in communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.