Nov. 29, 2007 -- Attorney General Paul Morrison aims to help Kansas kids stay safe on the Internet with a new public service announcement airing this week. Morrison partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Kansas and Cox Communications to produce the commercial. As a part of his Cyber Crime Unit’s education initiative, Morrison hopes the public service announcement will increase awareness for both parents and children.
“We do everything we can to keep our children safe. When our kids are home, we think they’re secure. But are they?” Morrison asks in the ad. “What about the Internet?”
In the past year, one-third of youth Internet users were exposed to unwanted sexual material online. One in 33 youths received an aggressive sexual solicitation in the past year. Morrison hopes by encouraging parents to educate their children about Internet safety, Kansas can better protect kids.
“Everyday, criminals use the Internet to target children. And social networking sites like MySpace--frequented by teens--have become a playground for sex offenders,” Morrison says. “I encourage parents to make Internet safety a family concern.”
In September, Morrison created a new Cyber Crime Unit within the Attorney General’s Office and outlined an aggressive Cyber Crime Initiative. Part of that initiative included increased Internet safety education and additional funding for the Boys & Girls Club's training programs.
“Attorney General Morrison continues to make the safety of Kansas children a priority,” said Wendy Coonrod, Coordinator of the Internet Education and Training for Kansas Kids program. “We’re thrilled he has partnered with us on this effort, and he continues to seek new resources for our programs to teach children about dangers online.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Kansas provides free Netsmartz and Internet safety training to kids and parents across Kansas. For more information or to schedule a training session, contact Wendy Coonrod at 785.234.5601.
Click here to view the public service announcement