Girls Take the Lead on Internet Safety in Online Safety Initiative
NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and Girl Scouts of the USA, the preeminent organization for building leadership in girls, is continuing to take the lead in highlighting the importance of online safety for girls, highlighting their innovative online safety campaign called LMK (Let Me Know) (www.lmk.girlscouts.org), launched by Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft Windows.
LMK (Let Me Know) will be featured at the California’s Women’s Conference in Long Beach, CA on October 26th and 27th, followed by the Family Online Safety Institute 3rd Annual Conference in Washington DC on November 4th and 5th.
While the full scope of online threats, such as cyberbullying, are difficult to measure, we do know that nearly one in six U.S. children grades six to 10 (that’s 3.2 million students) are victims of online bullying each year, according to the National Council of Juvenile Court Judges. Bullying is not “just a phase” or behavior in which “kids will be kids.” The repercussions of cyberbullying can be so grave that at least 13 U.S. states have passed or are proposing laws to make it a crime.
“Being online is a part of every teenage girl’s life,” says Shannon, age 17, a member of the LMK editorial team. “Now we have a chance to teach our parents about the real issues we face every day.”
LMK includes an interactive Web site for parents and girls, as well as an e-newsletter for parents. The e-newsletter and parent site are designed to provide parents with guidance and also serve as a tool to help families have open and honest conversations about the dangers that lurk in cyberspace.
“This campaign not only bridges the digital generation gap between girls and parents, but it also empowers girls to become leaders and advocates for the safe and responsible use of technology,” explains Laurel Richie, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Girl Scouts of the USA. “We are excited to create a campaign that encourages girls to speak and voice their concerns about internet safety.”
For more information, please visit: http://lmk.girlscouts.org
About LMK
Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft Windows joined forces to create LMK (text speak for “let me know”) — an online safety resource where girls are the technology experts on subjects that are often best discussed at a teen-to-teen level, like cyberbullying, predators and social networking. This girl-led campaign allows girls to share their online concerns with peer “tech-perts” about the issues that affect them while raising awareness about how to help keep girls safe while surfing the Web. In addition, parents have access to a site specifically geared to their needs, equipping them with the tools necessary to understand and act on the rapidly changing world of online safety.
About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.
SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA