October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
WASHINGTON - Congressman Charles B. Rangel welcomed the Federal Trade Commission's expansion of a national campaign to help parents and communities keep kids safe online and on their mobile phones. At an online privacy event in Washington D.C., on October 8, 2010, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, announced plans to increase distribution of the free Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online guide, in addition to the five million copies that have been already circulated to communities nationwide.
"There's no doubt the Internet has become an invaluable source for learning and development, but it can also be a dangerous place," said Congressman Rangel. "Unguarded, our nation's youngsters are most vulnerable from online predators and cyberbullying that can lead to tragic events."
According to the National Crime Prevention Center over 40% of all teenagers with Internet access have reported being bullied online. Yet only 10% of those kids who were bullied told their parents about the incident, and that only 18% of the cases were reported to a local or national law enforcement agency. Many young people surveyed also felt “threatened, embarrassed or uncomfortable” by a photo taken of them using a cell-phone camera.
Besides the Net Cetera guide, the Community Outreach Kit includes Heads Up, a new booklet for kids; a short video for parents; four short videos for kids; slides and discussion guides to use in a presentation; and a booklet on planning and hosting an online safety presentation. These toolkits provide advice to help kids be responsible online; steer clear of inappropriate content like pornography, violence, or hate speech; and protect themselves from contact with bullies, predators, hackers, and scammers. The booklet also teaches adults how to talk to kids about these problems.
"Safety of our children is vital to our nation's health," said Congressman. "I encourage every parent and school in my district and nationwide, to download or order the kit to protect their kids."
The Net Cetera Community Outreach Kit was created as part of OnGuardOnline.gov, a consumer education campaign centered on the website of the same name that provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology community to help people guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their privacy.
All of the materials, available in English and Spanish, may be downloaded from http://www.onguardonline.gov/. The kit, which includes a CD, a DVD, and printed materials, can be ordered for free at bulkorder.ftc.gov.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP 1 877-382-4357).
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