Safer Internet Day and Why It Matters

Next week on February 7, NCTA – The Internet and Television Association will add its support to the worldwide celebration of Safer Internet Day 2017 – “Be the Change: Unite for a Better Internet”. Now taking place in over 100 countries, Safer Internet Day is an annual, globally coordinated event promoting the efforts of internet users of all ages, interests and backgrounds, to make the internet a better place and vice versa – to make the world a better place with the help of the internet. The U.S. host for Safer Internet Day is ConnectSafely.org. Its U.S. steering committee includes organizations such as Common Sense Media, Family Online Safety Institute, iKeepSafe Coalition, Internet Education Foundation, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, National Cyber Security Alliance and National PTA.

In support of Safer Internet Day 2017, NCTA is excited to introduce a new video-based resource for parents called “In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)”. This original video series covers the latest and greatest websites, apps and products to help parents manage their children’s online and media activities. For example, one episode explains the basics of TV ratings, while another promotes awareness of KnowWhatsInside.com, a fantastic web resource that helps parents decide which apps are right for kids. Other episodes cover new products, such as Circle with Disney, an integrated solution for managing usage time and content filtering across all of a household’s Internet connected devices.

ICYMI is the latest addition to FamFriendly.com, NCTA’s contribution to the parental controls resource landscape. Controlwithcable.org continues to grow as a priority tool for parents seeking to educate themselves about parental controls issues and available resources. ICYMI should accelerate this trend, as it provides for the opportunity to deliver timely, up-to-date and actionable information about these resources.

Many of our member companies have been actively engaged for years in efforts to give parents and families the knowledge and tools they need to be safe and savvy users of broadband technology, digital content, and media. At NCTA, we want to help parents put these tools to good use, and continue to improve families’ online and media experiences.

Please join us in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2017, and be sure to check out ICYMI!

This blog also appeared in CTAM Smartbrief. To sign up, click here.