Childnet International today announced the launch of its “Blogsafety” advice website and leaflet designed to help both parents, teachers and young people understand the new safety issues of Social Networking and Blogging sites.
The leaflet and website have been launched to coincide with an important event in Washington DC on June 22nd 2006, hosted by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children which brings together leaders of Social Networking companies (including MySpace, Facebook, Xanga) law enforcement, education, and children’s advocacy groups to address the safety issues of these new services for children and young people. Stephen Carrick-Davies CEO of Childnet has been invited to address this conference and share from Childnet’s experience of producing award-winning educational resources both in the UK and world-wide.
Blogging and Social Networking sites are part of a revolution that some people are calling “Web 2.0”. With phenomenal speed these new sites are being launched which allow young people and adults to produce their own content, personalize their online space, aggregate content from other sources and form very powerful social networks.
Stephen Carrick-Davies says,” Young people love these new environments because they now have a cheap and powerful global platform to express their identity, opinions and form communities with others. However there are very real safety issues and we hope our advice for both young users, parents, industry and teachers will help ensure that children and young people are kept safe and use these new sites safely and responsibly.”
Childnet is keen to work with Social Networking companies in developing a new monthly competition which would showcase how young people are using these news websites positively and safely. Stephen says, “We’ve seen through our Childnet Academy programme how young people can produce their own fresh, original and creative content using the internet which really benefits others. One of the most effective safety strategies is to encourage young people to use the new tools positively and this proposed competition would help highlight and inspire young people to make a difference both online and offline.”
The NCMEC Social Networking Dialogue meeting will take place on Thursday 22nd June 2006 at J.W. Marriott Hotel, Capital Ball Room, Salons D, E & F 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20004 From 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
For more information contact:
Stephen Carrick-Davies, CEO
Telephone +44 (0) 20 7639 6967 or mobile +44 +(0)771 245 1859
About Childnet International
Childnet International is a registered charity, set up in 1995 – with the mission to work in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children.
The vision of the organisation is to ensure that all those involved in developing, producing, controlling, using and regulating international telecommunications (current and future), recognise and implement policies and programmes which prioritise the rights of children so that their interests are both promoted and protected. Childnet actively runs programmes that give children a voice on the net and educate them about the dangers and opportunities of using new communications technology.
For more information about Childnet International and its award winning projects go to www.childnet-int.org
