If you live in a rural area, you already know the struggle: the internet will have you stuck in the dark ages… and then everybody acts surprised when you can't stream, work, or upload a thing.

In this episode of Adulting with Autism, I'm talking with Mashood Ahmad, founder and CEO of Gigabit IQ — known as the UK's "Safe Broadband Provider." Mashood has spent 25+ years in telecom and broadband, and he's on a mission to make internet access not only fast, but also safer for families.

And y'all… we get into the part parents are exhausted by: online safety. Because once kids hit the internet, it can turn into the Wild West real quick — especially for autistic and neurodivergent kids who may be more vulnerable to manipulation, grooming, cyberbullying, and unsafe content. We talk about why "basic" parental controls aren't enough when you've got 20 devices in one house, and how network-level tools (aka controls that work across your home Wi-Fi) can reduce the chaos.

We also get REAL about:

• Why "super fast fiber" isn't always super, fast, or fiber

• Roblox, in-game chats, and how "kid games" can still be unsafe

• FamilyGuard+ features like age-based filtering, screen time limits, app blocking, alerts, and VPN bypass blocking (because these kids are SMART smart)

• How parents can set digital boundaries without turning into full-time detectives

• Why safety needs to be the standard — like seatbelts — not an optional add-on

Connect with Mashood / Gigabit IQ:
Website: gigabitiq.com
Learn about FamilyGuard+: Gigabit IQ FamilyGuard+