The Verizon Foundation is partnering with i-SAFE, the leader in online safety education, to educate area law enforcement officials, as well as students, parents and teachers on how to stay safe and secure while using the Internet.
The first program, held Monday February 1 at JFK Middle School in Northhampton, kicks off a series of 12 internet safety seminars this week at schools in Western Massachusetts as a part of Cyber Safety Week (February 1-February 5). The seminars cover a wide range of topics, including: cyber predators, cyber gangs, identity theft, mobile romance, and multiplayer online games.
Though the forums have been scheduled for months, the timing is quite opportune given the recent tragic chain of events in Massachusetts surrounding online bullying. Last month Phoebe Prince of South Hadley, MA took her life after allegedly being taunted by cyber bullies. After having emigrated to MA from Ireland, Prince was taunted by classmates both in person, through text messages, and on Facebook and other social networking sites.
According to a Verizon press release, "data collected by i-Safe shows that 35 percent of Massachusetts students tell their parents 'almost nothing' or 'nothing' about their Internet-only friends. And 30 percent of fifth-through twelvth-graders said their parents would disapprove or punish them if they knew about their internet activities. " (http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2010/students-learn-about-cyber.html)
This outreach is an excellent exercise in Corporate Social Responsibility. Whereas cigarettes and alcohol are required by law to warn consumers about the potential danger of using their products, the danger of internet use is less readily apparent and openly discussed. With internet use growing among both the younger and older age groups, Verizon's partnership with i-Safe will enable adults and children to recognize and avoid dangerous, destructive, or unlawful online behavior and respond appropriately.
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