So the Quinnipiac University student launched Digital Defenders Inc., a nonprofit to tackle online safety, focusing on educating children about digital risks and empowering them to navigate the Internet securely.
"I have two younger brothers and seeing them online all the time, playing online video games with their friends is worrying sometimes," he said. "They say they know who they're talking to, but do they actually?"
Pierre said he wasn't taught much about online safety when he was younger.
"But nowadays, it's getting more complex, and kids are falling for scams more often," he said.
During the fall 2023 semester, Pierre enrolled in a nonprofit management course led by instructor Danielle Beerli, where his final project involved developing a nonprofit organization. And so Digital Defenders Inc. was born.
Beerli was impressed with Pierre's final presentation, according to a press release.
"I thought it was something that was needed, especially with the generations coming up," she said. "They live online."
As a graduate student majoring in cybersecurity, Pierre said he wants to make people aware of the ways that can be exploited online. He added children are targeted since they don't know any better.
People under the age of 20 have lost $210.5 million to online scams in 2022, according to the 2022 Internet crime report done by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The purpose of Digital Defenders Inc. is to make cybersecurity accessible and fun for children while also educating them on the dangers of sharing information on the Internet , he said.
Pierre said he found the nonprofit registration process to be smooth with the help of Beerli, his stepmother — who also runs a nonprofit — and Frederick Scholl, director of Quinnipiac's cybersecurity program.
The goal of the nonprofit is to go to schools and libraries to educate children about cybersecurity and Internet safety, including phishing scams, cyberbullying and password security, he said.
As of right now, the nonprofit is registered in Massachusetts, but Pierre is working to register the organization in Connecticut. He is hoping to start scheduling classes in Connecticut schools and libraries in the fall.
"I just really want to teach kids the importance of Internet safety," he said. "Often times, we think elders are more likely to be scammed but kids are also victim of scams."
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