INOBTR is an abbreviated form of "I Know Better" and is a reflection of the Internet lingo used in blogs, e-mails and text-messages. The INOBTR campaign is designed to increase public awareness of online exploitation by promoting programs and tools to help protect children against online crimes while also engaging corporate and community leaders in the fight.
The INOBTR campaign will work in direct partnership with Missouri's Project Safe Childhood, which is part of a nationwide Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. In Missouri, federal prosecutors are forging a stronger partnership between law enforcement agencies and community organizations, including children's advocates, victim service providers, educators, non-profits and social service agencies.
"This is an issue that needs to be discussed in every home, every schoolroom and every business across the state," said INOBTR founder and St. Louis-based philanthropist Steven Schankman. "The best way to get those conversations started is through a comprehensive campaign that promotes awareness of the issues and helps educate both adults and children."
To generate the attention these issues deserve, Schankman and the INOBTR team have reached out to a popular celebrity from the music industry, Nick Lachey.
"Internet safety was not an issue when I was a kid," said Lachey. "But now, for example, I see my little brother, who is 15, online all the time. I see how much of a part of his life the Internet has become. Kids are very impressionable at that age, and frankly a lot of my fan base is that age group. I never want to see anyone taken advantage of, especially a child who is naive and impressionable."
INOBTR.org has been created to help Missourians find the tools and tips needed to help themselves and the ones they care about stay safe online. The site contains sections dedicated to teens, parents and educators -- it includes the latest information on trends and technology such as file-sharing software and online gaming sites. INOBTR.org also includes polls and quizzes, and expert advice from respected resources including the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Additional information found on INOBTR.org, including study findings and research analysis, originates from respected sources including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, MORE.net, the FBI, and more. Like the Internet itself, this Web site will be constantly updated with the latest Internet safety news, information about INOBTR special events, and a growing list of resources to help keep kids safe online.
