WebWiseKids Blog

Is Your Child Being Cyberbullied?

2012-11-29T00:59:00Z

While the Internet has allowed us greater delivery of information, improved communication networks between people, and provided faster and smoother access to products and services, it has also created another way in which our personal security can be put in jeopardy. Our personal information is available in electronic form to an unknown range of people and often lack of awareness and poor security management can result in your personal details being accessed by people you don’t know.

A Closer Look at Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can involve malicious personal attacks such as spreading lies and rumors about others, forwarding private text messages or emails, posting pictures of victims without their knowledge or consent, or pretending to be other people in order to gain information.

In October, President Obama launched National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) – a series of events and initiatives that are designed to increase education and awareness of cybersecurity within businesses and the average private home. Americans are encouraged to participate in the fight against cybercrime by following simple steps that will keep their information safe from potential harm. NCSAM suggests Internet users set strong passwords, install updates on all computers, limit the amount of personal information posted online and be cautious about what websites are accessed. Personal information is even more sensitive today. With the dependency on social media, theft protection services, like Lifelock.com, are more imperative than ever before.

Daily Use

Information security is not the only issue that has risen in the past few years with the rise in the use of the Internet – cyberbullying has become a large problem for many young people both within the United States and across the globe. A 2011 Pew Research Center study reported that 93 percent of American teenagers (12-17 years) were using the Internet. At the same time, the increased social networks that have developed through sites such as Facebook and Twitter have meant that young people have more opportunity to be bullied, teased or embarrassed by others. Delaware Online says that more than 140,000 students stay away from school daily due to cyberbullying.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Cyberbullying?

Teenagers can refuse to participate in the bullying of other young people, encourage their friends to stop, or report cyberbullying to a trusted adult. Young people who are being bullied can report the problem to teachers, parents or trusted adults. Schools should discuss the issues associated with cyberbullying, be proactive in explaining the dangers of social media and discourage all students from participating in cyberbullying.

Parents should have open conversations with their teenagers about the responsible use of the Internet and the impact their words can have on others in social media situations. Parents should also be aware of what sites their teenagers are using, and if they notice any emotional changes in their children, speak to them about issues they may be experiencing.

While the size and accessibility of the Internet and social media make it very difficult for parents to control what websites their children are using, it is important for parents and schools to educate young people on the best ways to use the web, when it is safe to provide personal information, and how to protect themselves against cyberbullying.

Five Technology Skills Every Student Should Learn

2012-09-14T00:11:00Z

eSchoolNews recently wrote an article about the top five technology skills every student should learn, and we couldn’t agree more with what they said!

In the article, eSchoolNews talks about crucial technology skills kids should know: Online literacy, critical thinking, the science behind technology, adaptability and courage.

Web Wise Kids' games embodies all of these themes-- we strive to educate kids about technology so that they can be smart about their decisions every day. Technology is an ever growing force in in today's society, and we can't stop it, but what we can do is teach our kids how to properly harness technology in ways that are more productive and beneficial to their lives.

We're so happy that eSchoolNews recognizes these skills that every student should learn, because we agree that they are crucial in the development of our children in this day and age. We hope to continue to create games and programs that will serve the next generation as tools for growth and success.

Cyberbully Hotline Announces Partnership With Web Wise Kids

2012-08-07T17:49:00Z

Leaders In Digital Citizenship Teaching And Anonymous Bullying-Reporting Solution Join Forces To Promote Cyber Safety And Bullying Prevention; Program Satisfies Child Internet Protection Act Certification Requirement For E-Rate Schools

Today, SchoolReach, developers of the CyberBully Hotline, announced that it has entered into a partnership with Web Wise Kids, a leader in providing unique and effective game-based resources to help young people safely use and enjoy the latest mobile and social media technologies. This affiliation provides the most sought after and comprehensive offering of anti-bullying anonymous reporting tools and the latest education materials to help schools reduce and prevent both bullying and cyber bullying episodes.

The collaboration includes the cross promotion of WWK’s successful interactive digital citizenship role-playing games to CyberBully Hotline users and the promotion of the CyberBully Hotline to WWK’s user base. WWK’s most popular games: “It’s Your Call,” and “Be Seen,” teaches students responsible online behavior and how to use social media technology safely. The program gives schools or districts grade-level Internet safety training to meet Child Internet Protection Act certification requirements. In addition, Web Wise Kids founder, Judi Westberg Warren, an internationally-recognized expert in the field of bully and cyber bully prevention and school safety, will be joining the CyberBully Hotline program as a regular contributor to its professional development and education resource center.

“I am thrilled to be part of this outstanding organization and its program,” said Westberg Warren. “I have watched the CyberBully Hotline take shape in the last year and it’s the best answer for schools and districts looking to have all their bases covered when it comes to giving students a way to anonymously report these damaging incidents while arming schools with the tools they need for documenting and reporting the incidents. What we offer is the educational piece with our popular online games so students can confidently and safely manage face-to-face bullying and online cyber bully hazards, too.” The CyberBully Hotline provides a two-way communications tool that allows students to instantly and directly send text messages -- or leave a voicemail -- anonymously with school officials. In response, those officials can immediately reply, also anonymously, and provide students the support they need to effectively address the offensive bullying act, whether they are witnessing it, or are on the receiving end of it. A national nonprofit organization, Web Wise Kids' offers a comprehensive approach to Internet safety through award-winning interactive games which are both “hands-on, mind-on” programs, that offer a positive, preventive, and proactive way to collaboratively engage youth, emotionally and cognitively to the issue of digital citizenship. These games are based on real life situations, are distributed primarily through training sessions for local school personnel facilitated by WWK trainers.

“With the CyberBully Hotline and Web Wise Kids joining forces, schools can know they are taking all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their students,” said Paul Langhorst, chief marketing officer for SchoolReach. “Students will have a way to anonymously report cyber bullying and other forms of bullying and harassment, as well as learn through realistic and challenging simulations the importance and affect of demonstrating good digital citizenship skills.”

About SchoolReach SchoolReach is the K-12 division of St. Louis-based GroupCast, LLC, a broadcast voice, e-mail and SMS notification provider. More information about SchoolReach can be found at www.schoolreach.com and www.cyberbullyhotline.com or by calling 1-800-420-1479.

About Web Wise Kids Web Wise Kids is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Southern California with satellite offices in the Northwest and Washington, D.C. For more information please go to www.webwisekids.org

Get Involved with Web Wise Kids!

2012-07-25T22:22:00Z

Games are one of the number ways to get education across in the classroom, and Web Wise Kids is proud to produce programs and games that help teach and educate kids who to be safe online in this ever-evolving technological world. To continue making games, we rely heavily on the support of the community and of companies who believe in our mission.

Watch our president, Judi Westberg-Warren, talk more about how companies and supporters can get involved with Web Wise Kids.

Should Facebook Open up to Children?

2012-07-16T20:16:00Z

Facebook has been considering lifting its age restriction on accounts and opening up its platforms to kids.

Watch more about what we think about this.

Parenting and Social Media Survey

2012-07-06T00:13:00Z

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) recently conducted the Parenting and Social Media Survey to measure the actions of parents in regard to their children’s usage of social media. Mobile device usage by children was also minimally covered in the study. The ITRC conducted this survey in order to better understand how parents try to keep their children safe while using social media. There were 207 responses.

“Children are spending more and more time online, and social media is becoming a larger part of their social lives. It is therefore important to understand how parents are monitoring their children’s usage of social networking sites,” said Nikki Junker, Social Media Coordinator for the ITRC. “The survey results will help the ITRC in developing informative materials and documents for parents and children to help them navigate their social media experiences safely.”

With Facebook considering allowing children under 13 join its user population, how parents interact with their children regarding social media is going to become more important. It is the ITRC’s hope that the findings of this survey will provide insight on how to improve this important communication.

To view the results of this survey, click here.

Thank you Identity Theft Resource Center for putting so much work into procuring this valuable information!

BeSeen App: Training Wheels for Social Networks

2012-06-26T23:09:00Z

Have your children played our BeSeen app yet?

BeSeen is our free mobile app designed to simulate an online social network for kids. By playing BeSeen, youth can subliminally learn how to be responsible on social networks through navigating fictional situations that test their judgment on private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers. The situations reflect real-life situations, making BeSeen a great way to introduce kids to social networks.

Watch and learn more about how our BeSeen app is a great "training wheels" program for your kids!

Sending Out Big Thank Yous To Our Sponsors

2012-06-14T22:05:00Z

We can't say it enough: thank you so much to our sponsors who have contributed and supported us through the conception and launch of our BeSeen mobile app. Watch our video featuring WWK President Judi Westberg-Warren extending her thanks to our sponsors.

BeSeen was created by Carnegie Mellon University and Web Wise Kids-- with the support of CTIA, Verizon Foundation and TrendMicro-- to teach youth how to be responsible in social networks by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers.

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning “friend” characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, it’s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

You can learn more about BeSeen or download the free lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website.

Web Wise Kids Featured in eSchool News!

2012-06-13T20:45:00Z

A report from eSchool News came out which lists the top ten ways that schools can teach students about Internet safety. The number one method to teach kids is to use games, and Web Wise Kids is listed as a resource. You can read the rest of the report here. (we're featured on pages 53 and 70).

For over 10 years, Web Wise Kids has been creating games that teach youth about digital citizenship. We have a collection of games ranging from ‘It’s Your Call’-- a game for tweens and teens that effectively addresses cyber bullying and empowers youth to make wise and respectful choices in their digital lives and in society-- to BeSeen, our newest mobile app that teaches kids how to be safe across social networks. 10 million youth throughout the nation have experienced our programs.

We're honored to be listed as a resource on eSchool News, and we hope the word about our games continues to spread.

Web Wise Kids and BeSeen: An Award Finalist!

2012-06-07T13:00:00Z

We are proud to announce that our BeSeen game has been selected as an award finalist by the Pittsburgh Technology Council!

This year’s fourth annual DATA Awards Event is part of the Creative Technology Network, developed with the generous support of the Benedum Foundation. Called Pittsburgh’s biggest creative tech party of the year, the event is a streaming mash-up of networking, interactivity and inspiration.

The 2012 Design, Art and Technology Award will be handed out at the DATA awards ceremony on June 7, 2012

BeSeenwas selected as a finalist in the “Next Generation: Kids & Creative Technology Category” recognizing the hard work and innovation of Web Wise Kids and Carnegie Mellon University.

Cross your fingers for us!

If you are new to Web Wise Kids or BeSeen, here’s more about the game:

BeSeen was created by Carnegie Mellon University and Web Wise Kids to teach youth how to be responsible in social networks by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers.

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning “friend” characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, it’s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

You can learn more about BeSeen or download the free lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website.

"Wired With Wisdom" Parent Program Now Available in Spanish!

2012-06-06T19:49:00Z

We've just released a Spanish version of “Wired with Wisdom"! Now, Hispanic parents have a resource that can give them the necessary knowledge and skills to supervise the digital activities of their children.

Parents need to acknowledge the accessibility that wireless and broadband advancements are placing on their children’s mobile devices. Wired With Wisdom is the first internet safety education program designed to increase Hispanic parent awareness of cyber safety issues. The “Wired with Wisdom” program is divided into 5 components: social networking, online communications, cell phone dangers, emerging technology, and chat rooms & instant messaging safety. Each component is a 20 minute seminar that advises parents on the dangers of cyber-bullying, inappropriate online behavior, sexting, and more. Starting this month, the Orange County Department of Education will be piloting the program to all schools servicing students in grades 6, 7, and 8.

Our English version of “Wired with Wisdom” has been around for years and has undergone upgrading several times. We were inspired to develop a Spanish version of the program when we realized that language barriers have made it increasingly difficult for Spanish speaking parents to have access to internet safety programs. Statistics have shown that the Hispanic youth spend more time on mobile devices, including cell phones and tablets, than other students. The lack of educational programs for the parents leaves their children at a higher risk of engaging in negative online behavior. To confront this challenge, we partnered with the Entertainment Software Association Foundation and created the Spanish version using all Latino actors and voice talent.

We're so excited to be expanding our resources across multiple language barriers, and to help more parents educate themselves on how to in turn educate their children.

To learn more about the Spanish version of Wired With Wisdom, please click here.

Would a Lift on Age Restriction Be Good for Kids on Facebook?

2012-06-05T21:52:00Z

Facebook has been considering lifting its age restriction on accounts and opening up its accounts to kids. (for more information, you can read this article.

If the FCC “okays” this move, it could be an important help for parents with tweens. As the article says, millions of tweens are online under false names and therefore not under supervision. As long as the tween can sign up under their parents account and the parents are provided with parental controls, I think this would add an important level of accountability. In no instance should tweens be allowed unsupervised access to social networking sites.

One element I believe still missing is education. Web Wise Kids and Carnegie Mellon University have created an educational game "BeSeen" which mirrors a social network and provides valuable learning experiences for middle schoolers. The game is a little like training wheels for a social networking experience; The kids create an avatar and enter in to the simulated social network therefore having the opportunity to make choices about how to handle the situations which occur. Kids learn the consequences of their decisions and get to remake choices that end up with negative outcomes.

BeSeen is a free download for smart phones from the iPhone and Android app store and helps prepare kids to "make wise choices on social networks". We’ve also created supplemental classroom materials for teachers and parents to use to further the discussion of the game with their children. Those materials are also available for free here.

Did You Know? More Great Games From Web Wise Kids!

2012-06-05T17:00:00Z

In this update, we'd love to share the rest of our programs with you.

Ready?

It's Your Call

SEXTING - CYBERBULLYING - ACADEMIC CHEATING

The Web Wise Kids cell phone safety program for middle school children is titled It's Your Call. Based on true stories, it is an interactive game that allows users to play out difficult situations in the safety of cyberspace before they live them out in real life.

MISSING

ONLINE LURING - PREDATORS - CYBERCRIME

MISSING tells the story of Zack, a kid in Vancouver, Canada who forms an online friendship with an online friend named Fantasma. This guy is so cool - he has an online magazine about beach life in California and he sends Zack great stuff to help him design his own computerized animations. Little does Zack know that Fantasma is a predator. After Zach leaves home for San Diego, California to be with Fantasma, players work with a detective to find and rescue Zack and arrest Fantasma. Learn more about MISSING.

Mirror Image

CYBERSTALKING - MODELING SCAMS - SPYWARE

Mirror Image tells the story of teenagers Sheena and Megan, best friends who are victimized by a criminal who uses the Internet to lure young women with promises of modeling contracts and online romance. Neither of the girls realizes that hacking software has been placed on their computers during their conversations with their 'online boyfriends.' Soon Sheena and Megan begin to suspect that someone is stalking them in real life. Players work with a detective to track the predator and arrest him. Read more at Web Wise Kids.

Air Dogs

CYBERBULLYING - PIRACY - ILLEGAL DOWNLOADING

AirDogs was designed to show teenagers that online crimes have lifelong legal and social consequences for teens and their families. In the game, Luke is a teenager who shows great promise as a snowboarder. He needs money for gear and training, so he begins to counterfeit software in his basement. Players collect data and evidence to put a stop to Luke's life of crime and catch Luke's boss, who is the ringleader of the operation. The message of Air Dogs is clear: theft and extortion are crimes, whether you're 16 or 60. Learn more about Air Dogs.

Wired With Wisdom

INTERACTIVE ONLINE LEARNING ADVENTURE

Web Wise Kids understands how challenging it can be for adults to keep informed about online dangers and teen's online activities. Our exclusive Wired With Wisdom® program has been specifically designed to be a user-friendly solution for busy parents. In addition, police officers and other professionals have recognized the value of the program and have utilized it to obtain valuable vocational safety training. Also available in Spanish! Learn more now!

BeSeen Featured in SecretlyNetwork.com!

2012-05-30T21:17:00Z

Our BeSeen app was featured in SecretlyNetwork.com's blog about best mobile applications for kids! Web Wise Kids is honored to be listed by Secretly Networking as a recommendation for Best Apps for Kids, and we are delighted to be included with so many other great apps.

Thank You To Our Sponsors!!

2012-05-28T20:40:00Z

With our BeSeen app gaining a lot of attention during the last several weeks-- especially since we launched an ad in USA Today-- we'd like to take a moment to thank our sponsors--CTIA Wireless Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University, Verizon Foundation-- without whom BeSeen would have never been possible.

If you are new to Web Wise Kids or BeSeen, here’s more about the game:

BeSeen was created by Carnegie Mellon University and Web Wise Kids to teach youth how to be responsible in social networks by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers.

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning “friend” characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, it’s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

You can learn more about BeSeen or download the free lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website. Watch our video thanking our sponsors here!