FOSI Celebrates Safer Internet Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) today encouraged parents to use Safer Internet Day as an opportunity to create a better Internet and talk with their kids about ways to have positive and safe online experiences. "Today is a perfect opportunity for parents and their kids to get together to talk about online safety," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "And once the conversation is started, parents need to stay engaged with their tech-savvy children and explore together the many positive places, apps and experiences online."

Safer Internet Day on Feb. 11th is an international education and awareness-raising effort spanning more than 100 countries. The centerpiece of this year's U.S. activities is an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by ConnectSafely in partnership with FOSI and other online 6 organizations. This will feature a keynote address by Senator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y, and panel discussions involving youth leaders and social media representatives.

According to FOSI's recent findings in "Teen Identity Theft: Fraud, Security, and Steps Teens Are Taking to Protect Themselves Online," 76% of teens are very or someone concerned about the 5 of their personal information being harmed by their online activity. On Safer Internet Day, FOSI reminds parents and teens to think about their digital reputation. Through A Platform for Good, FOSI provides resources for parents to talk to their kids and help create a safer online experience. These resources include a checklist to help people clean up their digital footprint and think about the information that they share online.

As part of the organization's commemoration of Safer Internet Day, FOSI will also be showcasing a number of initiatives on its Global Resource and Information Directory (GRID) blog, including examples of best practices for innovation and collaboration from around the world, as government, industry, educators, parents and children work to make the Internet a better, safer place.

About FOSI

The Family Online Safety Institute is an international, non-profit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes leaders in industry, government and non-profit sectors to collaborate and develop new solutions and policies in the field of online safety. Through research, resources, events and special projects, FOSI promotes a culture of responsibility online and encourages a sense of digital citizenship for all.