Millions of American school children are, or soon will be, singing “no more pencils, no more books,” the theme song marking the official start of summer and the annual school break. That usually means more time spent online.
Taking steps to help keep their kids safe online can be daunting for parents, so Verizon is providing help for reducing online threats by offering tips and links to resources.
“The first line of defense against online threats is quite naturally in the home,” said Wade Baker, a Verizon security expert and one of the authors of the company’s annual “Data Breach Investigations Report.” “So many of the things we do online today — from using social media to keep in touch with school buddies to downloading movies and music – can carry some risks. Like sunscreen and staying hydrated, cyber safety is par
Tags: Online Safety, Parents, Summer
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If your kids are online, chances are they’ve been on YouTube. While the site has the potential for fun and creativity, there is also some risk of running into content that you might deem age-inappropriate for your kids. So check out the article below to learn more, and take an active role in your child’s YouTube experience!
YouTube is huge
YouTube remains the No. 1 online video site, according to Nielsen Online. 24 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute (YouTube, 2010). YouTube launched in 2005, and was purchased by Google in fall 2006 for $1.65 billion. Kids are supposed to be 13 years old to use YTags: Advice, Google, Online Safety, Parents, Safety Mode, Sharing videos, Videos, YouTube
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Check out Common Sense Media’s article and video below about kid’s digital lives. Common Sense Media asserts that “Parents have lost control of the flow of information to our kids who see too much, too soon. “ What do you think? Do kids see too much, too soon as a result of digital technology?
5 Essential Facts of Digital Life
Kids are the creators. It’s all about participating, communicating, making music, images, videos, and posting written content. And the content that’s there? Kids must be able to know if it’s credible or not. Everything happens in front of a vast, invisible, and often anonymous audience. Once something is out there, it doesn’t goTags: Connected culture, Digital Life, Kids, Online Safety, Parenting, Parenting Advice
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by Susan Butta
With the holidays fast approaching I thought it might be time for a little brushing up on Internet safety tips. Often we tend to focus on youngsters to make sure their Internet experience is safe, but today I’d like to focus on older Americans as they get online perhaps for the first time.
Here is an excerpt from a booklet Verizon commissioned by Linda Criddle of the Safe Internet Alliance and Nancy C. Muir from iLookBothWays to help seniors have a safe, fun and productive time online.
Tags: Frauds, Holidays, Online Safety, Scams, Sharing Personal Information Online, Spam, Strong Passwords
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Our kids are growing up in public
When we were growing up, a permanent record was something your school kept. Now, our kids create lasting records of their lives whenever they post something online. In a world where anything can be copied, pasted, altered and distributed in the blink of an eye to a vast invisible audience, kids must understand that they hold the key to what kind of reputation they create for themselves.
Help kids help themselvesAs parents, it’s up to us to help our kids understand the consequences of their actions and prepare them for the fact that the user name “FatGreenWizard” — which might have been cute in 5th grade — won’t be so adorable at that first job interview. We have to help them think long
Tags: Kids, Online Privacy, Online Safety, parent advice
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As a parent, it might often feel like you’re playing catch-up with your kids when it comes to technology. Common Sense Media’s “Rules of the Road for Parents” makes the important point that smart, responsible online and wireless use begins at home. Watch the video and read the article below to learn some simple steps that can help you make a difference in your child’s digital experience.
Just a few short years ago, there was no such thing as Facebook, cyberbulling, smart phones,
Tags: cell phones, establish limits, Online Safety, Parents, set an example, Texting, YouTube
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Today’s guest blogger is Monica Vila, founder and Chief Technology Mom at TheOnlineMom.com. Monica is passionate about empowering families to make good decisions about the use of technology and is an advocate of parents embracing technology by understanding both its benefits and risks. Monica’s website, TheOnlineMom.com, provides parents with a wealth of information on how they can harness the power of technology while keeping their families safe in the digital age.
How to Stay Safe on the Web
The Internet is a great resource for family entertainment and education. But barely a week goes by without hearing about a brand new virus that is attacking computers
Tags: Internet Safety, Online Safety, Phishing, Security, Security software, Spam, Spyware, Viruses
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Verizon had a strong presence at the Family Online Safety Institute’s 4th Annual Conference, “Internet Freedom, Safety & Citizenship: A Global Call to Action.” This year’s conference included 400 participants, 90 speakers and 30 exhibitors!
Aside from Verizon’s role as a co-sponsor of this extraordinary event, Verizon Wireless’ West Area President, Tami Erwin, delivered an inspiring keynote address, and Jack McArtney represented Verizon on the panel “Tech Talk: the latest tools to empower and protect.” In his opening remarks, Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI, even mentioned that he uses Verizon Wireless Usage Controls on his daughter’s cell phone!
Tags: cyberbullying, FOSI Conference, Mobile Phones, Online Safety, parental controls, Social Networking, Teens
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With the support of the Verizon Foundation and other partners, Enough is Enough began a new program—Internet Safety 101SM—to educate, equip and empower parents, educators, and other caring adults with the knowledge and resources needed to protect children from the online dangers of pornography, cyberbullying, sexual predators, sexting and other threats related to social networking, mobile and gaming devices. For more information, visit www.internetsafety101.org. To get started, print out the Rules ‘N Tools Checklist below, and use it to stay in touch and in control of your children’s internet use.
Tags: Enough is Enough, IM, Online Safety, parental controls, Rules 'N Tools, Time Limits
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As summer draws to a close and parents ready their homes for the start of another school year, it’s the ideal time to discuss digital citizenship and responsible internet usage practices with kids. This digital workshop from the Verizon Foundation and Frontline entitled, ‘Advice for Parents,’ focuses on digital parenting. Anne Collier, web safety expert and editor of www.netfamilynews.org, emphasizes that while parents cannot remove all risks from a child’s life online, they can empower and educate children to be responsible social web users. And, in fact, this empowerment and education is a vital part of their cognitive development.
Tags: Digital Nation, frontline, Online Safety, parental controls
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