Meet The Family IT Guy
Ben Gillenwater helps families protect children from digital dangers, bringing 30 years of cybersecurity expertise to the parenting journey. His background includes working with the NSA and serving as Chief Technologist of a $10 billion IT company, where he built global-scale systems and understood technology's risks at every level.
His mission began when he gave his young son an iPad with "kid-safe" apps—only to discover inappropriate content days later. Despite his deep technical background, Ben realized that if protecting children online was challenging for him, it must be even more difficult for parents without his expertise.
Through Family IT Guy, Ben creates videos and articles that help parents and kids learn how to leverage the positive parts of the internet while avoiding the dangerous and risky parts. His approach bridges the knowledge gap between complex technology and practical family protection, making digital safety accessible to everyone.
Topics Ben Covers
Screen Time & Digital Addiction
Learn how addictive app design affects your child's sleep, outdoor activity, and mental health. Get practical strategies to set healthy boundaries and break the dopamine cycle.
Online Predators & Safety
Understand how predators use chat apps, gaming platforms, and social media to target children. Discover step-by-step guides to block dangerous contact before it happens.
Privacy & Data Collection
Tech companies collect massive amounts of data on your children. Learn what information they're gathering, how it's used, and how to protect your family's privacy.