NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — The internet is a tale of two sides. It makes news and information easily accessible to a wide audience, but on the other hand, it also offers people a sense of anonymity, which often brings out the worst in us. A new study by Cloudwards, took a look at which states kids are safest in online, and which states have the highest rates of cyberbullying. The study looked at four categories to determine how safe each state is for children online. These include online safety crimes and threats, cyberbullying prevalence, cyberbullying and online safety legislation, and mental health support. North Dakota ranked fourth on the list. The Peace Garden State ranked fourth in crimes and threats, tied for ninth in cyberbullying and safety legislation, and ranked 11th in cyberbullying. The state excels at addressing online crimes against children, such as harassment, stalking, and threats of violence, and has a low number of each of those. According to the 2023 FBI Internet Crime Report, only one state had fewer complaints regarding internet crime than North Dakota, and that is Vermont. North Dakota also had the fewest complaints per capita of any state. What kept North Dakota from being in the top three in the ranking on Cloudwards is being ranked 32nd in mental health support. The Peace Garden State is the middle of the pack when it comes to the services it offers to victims of cyberbullying. Annual Youth Action Summit to focus on tobacco prevention Above North Dakota are Utah (1), Hawaii (2), and New Jersey (3). Utah made history in 2023, when the state became the first to pass an act requiring age verification on social media, in addition to restricting certain features like direct messaging. The state has since repealed and amended the act after it was challenged by NetChoice for being unconstitutional.  The bottom three, on the other hand, are Oregon (51), California (50), and New Hampshire (49). The reason Oregon is last is largely because most of its laws don't cover off-campus incidents. According to the study, 65.2% of people in Oregon reported that they have been cyberbullied. States with tech cities, such as California, North Carolina, and Texas, are also among the riskiest areas for child online safety, according to Cloudwards. The study concluded by offering kids five tips to stay safe on the internet. These tips are as follows: Be careful about what information you share, and never put anything like your address or phone number online. Never meet up with someone you meet online. If someone asks you to do this, alert a parent or guardian. Don't open links you receive over email or direct messaging. These could be scams from people trying to get your personal information. Use strong passwords and never share them with anyone. Parents/guardians should regularly communicate with their children about the importance of online safety. To read the full study, go to the Cloudwards website here: The Best & Worst US States for Kids’ Online Safety in 2024 Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW