i-SAFE CEO Stresses Schools’ Role in National Cyber Security Awareness Month

October 14, 2010

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CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Two separate actions in Washington, D.C. last week undeniably point to the need to teach comprehensive media literacy, digital citizenship and cyber safety curriculum in all U.S. schools.

In written responses released October 8 from companies asked by the House Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus to defend their online privacy practices, most said their privacy protections were adequate, while explaining that tracking and collection of user information is the trade-off for offering their online services at no-cost. At the same time, a nationwide poll conducted by Zogby International for Common Sense Media finds that 75% of parents say social networking sites don’t do enough to keep children’s information safe. “Kids spend much of their time online which means they are being subjected to constant, intrusive and targeted technologies that could compromise their privacy,” said Teri Schroeder, CEO of i-SAFE Inc. “Children need to be prepared for the existing and evolving online landscape that continues to create more, not fewer, opportunities for targeted advertising and data mining.”

Since 2002, more than 32 million U.S. students were better prepared to engage Cyberspace because their school taught them i-SAFE lessons on personal safety, cyber citizenship, privacy, and more. To that point, 76% of 3^rd – 12^th grade students completing i-SAFE lessons indicated they will be more careful about sharing personal information on the Internet. “The concept driving i-SAFE and imbedded in all the i-SAFE curriculum taught by K-12 schools during the past decade is that e-Safety critical thinking and empowerment exercises produce smarter, more sophisticated and, therefore, safer and more responsible online citizens,” says Ms. Schroeder.

Ms. Schroeder applauds the FTC and DHS for their ongoing awareness efforts tied to October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Further, she suggests that during National Cyber Security Awareness Month schools and districts review and update their safety and curriculum policies to include teaching a comprehensive array of digital citizenship, media literacy and cyber safety lessons.

About i-SAFE

i-SAFE publishes research based, best practices e-Safety curriculum for students in grades K-12. Lessons embedded with dynamic community outreach activities empower students to manage their online experiences by proficiently and independently exercising a learned and practiced ability to use the Internet and other communications technologies with a level of sophistication that results in increased safety and utility. (www.isafe.org)