Just One Initiative: Internet Safety Month

Friends,

One week ago today, the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign launched the Just One Initiative.  The Initiative aims to double the number of people involved in Stop.Think.Connect. by asking each of our "Friends" to enlist just one more person to join our effort by June 30.  We must remember that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.  In order to better protect our fellow citizens from harm, we must collectively raise awareness about safe online practices.  Please do your part to help make America more secure by convincing your friends, family and colleagues to become a "Friend" today by visiting www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

With June being National Internet Safety Month, there is no better opportunity for you to encourage just one individual to become a "Friend" of Stop.Think.Connect.  We encourage you to read and pass along the blog included below to anyone who may be interested in joining our Campaign.  In doing so, remind your prospective recruits that securing cyberspace starts with them.

June is National Internet Safety Month

With the school year ending, many kids will spend more time online each day over the summer. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, children and teens aged 8-18 devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes per day to electronic devices. If a child sleeps 8 hours a night, that means one-half the time he or she is awake is spent online.

The goals of Internet Safety Month are to raise awareness about Internet safety issues and encourage each of us to educate ourselves and our Nation’s youth how to behave responsibly when using the Internet.

Many schools and communities use this month as an educational opportunity not only for students – but for teachers and parents as well. There are steps that parents can take to help prevent cyberbullying and encourage kids to report bad behavior online. These steps start with taking the initiate to talk kids about cyber threats- creating an honest, open environment.

Below are simple tips to keep you and your kids safe online.

The Department’s Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign encourages students, parents, and teachers to remain vigilant about their daily Internet use. The Campaign’s objective is to help you become more aware of growing threats and arm you with the tools to protect yourself and your family.

Stop. Think. Connect. offers the following advice to parents to keep their children safe online:

Stop: Before you let your children use the Internet, set clear guidelines about which sites they are allowed to visit and what they should do if they see something questionable.

Think: Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs that may indicate your child is using the Internet unsafely.

Connect: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to safeguard you and your family.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone.

For more information on Stop.Think.Connect. programs and opportunities, visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

Best,

Tim Fraser

Director

Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign

U.S. Department of Homeland Security