Highlights from the Family Online Safety Institute Conference 2010

Anne Collier and Larry Magid of ConnectSafely with Denise Terry, Chief Safety Mom at SafetyWeb

This week SafetyWeb is participating in the Family Online Safety Institute's 4th Annual FOSI Conference, and we're happy to be here along with several members of our Product Advisory Council including Hemu Nigam of SSP Blue, Anne Collier and Larry Magid of ConnectSafely.org, and Marsali Hancock of iKeepSafe.org.

FOSI highlights include a great video of 'FOSI 2010 Year in Review' detailing the impressive progress that FOSI has made so far in helping raise issues around family safety, along with a must-see video for all parents and educators called 'Go Figure' full of statistics and data on cell phone and online use by kids. It's been a lively show so far, as you'll see from reading the #fosi2010 Twitter feed and the 'FOSI 2010 Day One Highlights Video'.

Last night we enjoyed a teen performance by the Wilson Family Players, drama students from the local Wilson High School, who acted out a hilarious and all-too-real skit on stage about teen's social lives and how they behave with each other (and their parents) using Facebook, text messaging, and speak in 'teen speak' full of acronyms like OMG, TTYL, and BRB. [If you don't understand what those mean, decipher them with our handy 'Parents Guide to Teens & Mobile'].

Wilson Family Players from Wilson High School act out 'teens on Facebook and mobile phones' drama

Our friends Ann and Larry were both honored at last night's award ceremony for the important work they have done through ConnectSafely.org, including their most recent launch of 'A Parents Guide to Facebook'. We recommend the guide to parents, educators as well as teens who can educate themselves about the benefits and potential risks of Facebook and better use it responsibly. If you're at the FOSI Conference, be sure to stop by the ConnectSafely.org booth in the lobby and pick up your copy of 'A Parents' Guide to Facebook' or download it online at FBParents.org and share it with other parents.

Today's FOSI Agenda includes a panel on 'Digital Citizenship: Safety, literacy, and ethics for life in a digital world', as well as breakout sessions on Sexting, Tools to Empower and Protect, Behavioral Issues in Online Safety (It's All in the Mind), as well as the Latin American Perspective.

Must Read List from FOSI Conference References:
Pew Internet Teens and Mobile Phones: Exploring safety issues as mobile phones become the hub for American teens - FOSI 2010 by Amanda Lenhart
ConnectSafely.org's 'A Parents Guide to Facebook'