Internet Safety with Connected Tennessee & University of Memphis

Rules for the worldwide web are the same for both adults and children: people online may not be who they say they are, so never give out personal information, send your picture, or meet up with someone without permission (kids) or a friend and perhaps mace (adults).

Focusing on children, Connected Tennessee and University of Memphis provided Internet safety information to Boys and Girls Clubs in West Tennessee over the course of 2012 and are aiming to share the training statewide.

These training presentations led by U of M students showed video created by Connected Tennessee partner iKeepSafe, allow for open dialogue to ask and answer questions, offer social media safety information, safe educational and fun websites, cyber bulling and Internet stranger danger tips. 

“This type of information is so important for the safety of our children,” said Sycamore View Boys & Girls Club in Memphis Club Director Gladys Cole.

Connected Tennessee State Operations Manager Deanna Ward and Mark Reavis, Director Network and Data Center Ops at University of Memphis, were delighted to see how eagerly the kids responded to the students and the various presentations. 

To date, this program has been presented in all of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Memphis and Jackson.

“This is a great opportunity for University of Memphis to share its knowledge and skills with the children in the community,” said Ward. “We would love to roll out the program state-wide, partnering with other colleges and utilizing video conferencing equipment. Once we can get a schedule for presentations and funding for equipment, I believe the experience for the club members will be invaluable, especially in this day and age of the Internet.”

The Internet Keep Safe (iKeepSafe) Coalition is a broad partnership of governors and/or first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement, and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online.  iKeepSafe uses these unique partnerships to disseminate safety resources to families worldwide. 

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