Internet Safety
The Internet is a mixed blessing for hundreds of millions of users. It provides instant access to unlimited information, communication and entertainment, but also may connect children and adults to offensive, misleading, illegal information, as well as predators and privacy bandits.
- 96 percent of students 9-to-17-year-olds with Internet access have used social networking technologies. (Grunwold Associates)
- 64 percent of teens post photos or videos of themselves online, and 58 percent post information about where they live. (Teen Research Unlimited)
- 69 percent of teens regularly receive messages from people they don’t know. Most do not tell an adult, and 31 percent say they usually reply and chat. (Teen Research Unlimited)
Prevention and Education
Our business is centered on technology, so we believe it is our responsibility to be proactive and help people understand how to use the technology of the Internet safely.
Verizon Foundation invests in programs and organizations that:
- Help law enforcement officers investigate Internet-related crimes against children.
- Educate parents and caregivers about measures they can take to help children use the Internet safely.
- Teach teens and young children how to protect themselves and avoid putting themselves in danger or breaking the law.
- Warn adults about the pitfalls and dangers online.
Thinkfinity, the Verizon Foundation’s signature education site has compiled a list of resources and helpful links created and reviewed by their content partners on Internet safety to assist teachers and parents to help keep our children safe.
Featured Grants
- Enough is Enough’s Internet Safety Safety 101 is a DVD teaching series, workbook and Web site specifically designed to educate, equip and empowers parents, educators and other caring adults with the knowledge and resources they need to protect kids across all Internet enabled devices. For more information, visit www.internetsafety101.org.
- Web Wise Kids targets 11 to 14-year-old children with free online games that teach guidelines for safe Internet and cell phone use and are especially designed to prevent predatory luring, bullying, identity theft and security issues.
- I-SAFE developed an Internet Safety Education and Outreach Program that provides a classroom curriculum for schoolchildren and community programs for parents, law enforcement officers and community leaders. I-SAFE has reached four million students and 250,000 adults nationwide.
