[July 24, 2009] i-SAFE CEO Reacts to "PointSmart. ClickSafe." Task Force Recommendations Tweet CARLSBAD, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- i-SAFE Inc. CEO today made the following statement regarding the "Point Smart. ClickSafe." task force recommendations: During the past few months, several individuals and groups working in or around the field of Internet safety for children have been writing articles or issuing Press Releases that gently attempt to give a realistic and practical context to the continuing stream of media reports about Internet predators, cyber bullying, sexting, and other technology-aided online activities that tend to scare or alarm or disgust or outrage parents and other responsible adults. Thankfully, the effort to interject balance and thoughtfulness into the media's reporting on the "wild west" type expansion of Cyberspace now includes an increasingly louder (or more frequent) call for educating minor children to the degree they are enabled to behave responsibly, exercising caution and self-restraint and using critical-thinking skills, as they grow up online. The "PointSmart. ClickSafe task force recommendations for best practices for child online safety," published July 8, is an excellent example. The task force report emphatically reinforced the role that parents and prevention-oriented education must play in raising the next generation of "digital citizens." "Both are important to positively influence a child's online behaviors," says Teri Schroeder, CEO and Program Director of i-SAFE, a non-profit that promotes e-Safety education in the home and classroom. "Parents can and should be vigilant about taking an interest in their children's online life and being aware of where their children go online. However, interest and concern alone does not translate into critical thinking and safe and responsible online behavior when the same child accesses the Internet at a friend's house or from a cell phone when away from home. The U.S. Congress and state legislatures across the country are increasingly turning to schools as the most effective option, passing laws that require e-Safety lessons be taught in their classrooms, by and large without funding these mandates." The task force, comprised of industry stakeholders, educators and Internet safety groups recommends: Expanding online safety efforts to emphasize online smarts, through digital media literacy and education programs that empower parents and teachers to prepare kids to navigate the world of online and digital media; Designation by the President or Congress of a lead federal agency that would work collaboratively and comprehensively with all major stakeholders in marshaling resources for the improvement of online safety and Internet literacy and coordinate the activities under diverse federal programs; Adoption of a set of national goals for online safety by education policymakers; Ensuring that all digital literacy and online safety programs are funded through competitive grants open to qualified applicants; and more. It is noteworthy (and highly encouraging) that even with representatives from technology companies the task force emphasizes education rather than technology. The group is admitting that mere awareness of risks is not sufficient and that true safety online is not exclusively found in software applications - rather, it is found in education and community support, which has been the backbone of i-SAFE education and community outreach programs ever since receiving Congressional funding in 2002. In the ensuing seven academic terms, more than 8 million American students have received i-SAFE's prevention-oriented lessons which promote critical thinking that empower students to be safe and responsible online. Unquestionably, the recommendations published by the task force demonstrate it has grasped the magnitude of the online safety challenges for children and their parents. Further, i-SAFE agrees with its premise that the Internet is an "Ecosystem of Shared Responsibility" among parents, teachers, child advocates, health professionals, Internet service and content providers, concerned citizens, and law enforcement. "Law enforcement has an arduous and important job tracking down cyber criminals, especially those who victimize children, and many agencies enjoy funding through the Department of Justice," says Ms. Schroeder. "To support the dedicated work of law enforcement, prevention-oriented education (i.e., education in classrooms that goes well beyond surface level awareness) and community involvement also are essential elements to keeping children safe online. However, e-Safety education programs have been starved, and study after study show that to effectively promote media literacy and cyber citizenship, federal funds administered through the Department of Education must also flow to those programs that directly benefit students in the classroom." About i-SAFE Inc. Founded in 1998 and active in all 50 states, i-SAFE Inc. (www.isafe.org) is the leader in e-Safety education. i-SAFE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and empower students, parents, seniors and community members to safely and responsibly take control of their Internet experiences. i-SAFE provides knowledge that enables them to recognize and avoid dangerous, destructive or unlawful online behavior, and to respond appropriately. This is accomplished through dynamic K through 12 curriculum and community-outreach programs to students, parents, law enforcement and community leaders. i-SAFE is the only Internet safety foundation to combine these elements. i-SAFE Inc. is recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a tax exempt 501(c) (3) charitable organization. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]