Alabama Governor Proclaims "Internet Safety Day"

Alabama Governor Bob Riley proclaimed today "Internet Safety Day" and announced that the Verizon Foundation is awarding grants of almost $60,000 to programs that protect Alabamians, particularly children, when they get online.

"There have always been bullies. There have always been thieves. There have always been predators out there who seek to harm our children. It used to be that when your child came home from school each day you could lock the door behind them and know that they were safe. But that's not the case anymore. If you have Internet access in your home, the bullies, the thieves and the predators can all be there, too," Riley said during a ceremony on Wednesday.

The governor said that in a world where children can go online and be instantly connected with strangers, parents need to set rules on Internet usage and talk to their children about online safety.

But he also pointed out: "Internet safety isn't just for kids. [People] of all ages must be vigilant when they get on the Internet because everyone can be a target." The governor said that means making sure you don't give out personal information to strangers on the Internet, that you contact authorities if you're sent material that is obscene or inappropriate, and if you receive an e-mail with an offer that's too good to be true, "it is. Delete it."

"Society will never realize the full promise of broadband technology unless we make it a safe and secure environment for commerce, communications and, most of all, for kids. That's why it's critical to Verizon's future that we play an active role in helping," said Michelle Robinson, Verizon's senior vice president of the Southeast Region

The grants awarded by Verizon's philanthropic arm to four nonprofit organizations will be used to promote Internet safety in Alabama. Grant recipients are:

• Alabama Network of Children's Advocacy Centers: The organization will use its grant of $25,000 to collaborate with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to increase awareness of cyber safety and to prevent abuse and victimization of children via the Internet.
• Geneva County Family Resource Center: Its $9,500 grant will be used to conduct Internet safety classes in Geneva County schools and senior citizen centers.
• Girls Inc. of Central Alabama: The organization's $10,000 grant will go to fund its "Smart Girls Stay Safe" project to educate and train girls ages 11-14 on Internet safety. The project will be incorporated into after-school programs and technology classes.
• Madison City School System: The school system will use its $15,000 grant for its SHIELD program (Students Having Internet E-wareness for Living Digitally), which will provide free Internet safety training to educators, parents and students. Program topics will include cyber bullying, online predators and sharing personal information online.

During the event at the state capitol, disturbing statistics from Pew Internet surveys were read that highlight the dangers the Internet poses to young people:

• One of every three teenagers reports being contacted by a stranger online.
• Thirty-two percent of teens say they've been harassed online by someone who posted unwanted photos, spread rumors, circulated emails or made threats. 
• Only 11 percent of teens say they've talked to their parents or another authority figure about these kinds of disturbing online experiences.

"That's why it's so important for parents to talk to their children and to educate them about staying safe online. Parents need to take the initiative and set ground rules about using the Internet," Riley said.