WebWiseKids Blog : protecting children online

Thank You To Our Sponsors!!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:40:00 GMT

With our BeSeen app gaining a lot of attention during the last several weeks-- especially since we launched an ad in USA Today-- we'd like to take a moment to thank our sponsors--CTIA Wireless Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University, Verizon Foundation-- without whom BeSeen would have never been possible.

If you are new to Web Wise Kids or BeSeen, hereвЂ™s more about the game:

BeSeen was created by Carnegie Mellon University and Web Wise Kids to teach youth how to be responsible in social networks by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers.

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning вЂњfriendвЂќ characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, itвЂ™s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

You can learn more about BeSeen or download the free lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website. Watch our video thanking our sponsors here!

BeSeen FAQs

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:18:00 GMT

BeSeen is our mobile phone app we created in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University. The game is designed to be played on a mobile phone and simulates a social network. It was designed to teach kids how to be responsible on social networks like Facebook, by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation, and defending their peers.

BeSeen was made possible by support from Trend Micro, CTIA The Wireless Foundation, and The Verizon Foundation.

Why Was BeSeen Created?

As many as 7.5 million Facebook users in the U.S. are under age 13 - a violation of Facebook's user policies - according to a new study by Consumer Reports, as reported by Ad Age.

BeSeen was created to combat some alarming statistics about kidsвЂ™ behavior on social networks:

55% of teens have given out personal info to someone they donвЂ™t know, including photos and physical descriptions.

29% of teens have posted mean info, embarrassing photos or spread rumors about someone.

29% have been stalked or contacted by someone they donвЂ™t know.

24% have had private or embarrassing info made public without their permission

22% have been cyberpranked

56% of teens say they have been the target of some type of online harassment

15% percent of the young people surveyed say they have sent nude photos or videos of themselves

21% say they've received nude photos or videos from others. About half of those involved say they felt pressured to do so BeSeen teaches kids to behave responsibly on social networks, and to guard their personal information and images.

You can find more statistics about kidsвЂ™ behavior on cell phones and online here.

What is the Game About?

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning "friend" characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, itвЂ™s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

Where Can I Find BeSeen?

BeSeen is a free mobile app, available for download in both the Apple App Store and Google Play (formerly the Android Marketplace). You can find more information about the game, including support documents and instructional materials here.

How much Does the App Cost?

BeSeen is available for free. It's easily downloaded in both the Apple App Store and Google Play (formerly the Android Marketplace). We also offer free handouts, instructional videos and companion materials to be used in classrooms or at home.

What Platforms Can I Play BeSeen On?

BeSeen is available for both the iPhone, and Android smartphones. It is not yet available for laptops or tablets.

I'm a Teacher; Can I Use the App in my Classroom?

Absolutely! BeSeen is a fun and engaging learning tool to teach your students about social networking. We have created an entire set of classroom resources around the BeSeen App, to help you use it effectively in your classroom. You can download the materials for free here.

Also, if you are interested in having a Web Wise Kids staff member facilitate the BeSeen Program in your classroom, we can make arrangements for the program to be led either in person, or over Skype. For information on facilitation, please email Rommel Anacan at [email protected]

I'm a Parent; Can I Use the App at Home?

Sometimes, parents are unsure about whether to allow their kids on social networks. BeSeen can be a great way to teach your kids how to navigate social networks safely, and to achieve peace of mind as a parent. Our free BeSeen classroom materials can easily be adapted for use at home, or, simply download the free app and let your kids play.

Are There Any Instructional Videos That Might Help Me Understand the App?

We have several videos available that will walk you through the BeSeen game. There are also printed materials that can help you understand what players are learning as they navigate the game. You can find all of these resources here.

Where Can I Go For More Information?

For more information on BeSeen, visit our website. You can also download our free Program Resources to learn more about the BeSeen App. If you would like to learn more about the other educational video games that we offer, you can do that here.

Join our newsletter to stay up to date on all our news, and the latest educational programs weвЂ™re rolling out.

And, to contact us, please email [email protected].

What If I have a Question That IsnвЂ™t Addressed Here?

You can always reach us by email at [email protected].

Or, call us at (866) WEB-WISE or 714-435-2885. We would love to hear from you!

Teen Bullying Suicide Pushes Newspaper to Take a Stand

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:32:00 GMT

A teen in Iowa, 14 year old Kenneth Weishuhn Jr., committed suicide because of bullying, and a newspaper is now taking a stand. Shaken by WeishuhnвЂ™s death, The Sioux City Journal dedicated its entire front page of its Sunday edition paper to an editorial rallying the city against bullying. Full front page editorials are rare, but the Sioux City Journal felt that it was the only way to address the enormity of the situation in order to garner the attention of its readers.

I certainly commend the Sioux City Journal for devoting their front page to discourage bullying. It is hard to believe that yet another young person has taken their life due to bullying. When are we going to realize as a society that bullying another person physically or emotionally causes irreparable damage? We must continue to educate the public, parents and children that bullying is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Thank you Sioux City Journal for taking this public stand.

One of the ways WWK combats bullying is through our educational games, like our free mobile app, BeSeen. Learn more about BeSeen--and how it can teach our children to combat cyberbullying--here .

Web Wise Kids is a 2012 Design, Art and Technology Awards Finalist!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:07:00 GMT

The Pittsburg Technology Council has nominated Web Wise KidsвЂ™ BeSeen app in their upcoming awards ceremony of the year.

The annual DATA (Design, Art, and Technology Awards) ceremony, which celebrates the best design, art and technology inventions in the nation, is split into seven categories: Innovation: The Changemakers, Maker: Design & Making, Joystick: Games & Applications, i-Con: Communications and Information Sharing, Media Arts: The Intersection of Art and Technology, Community: Art + Tech for our People and Places, and Next Generation: Kids & Creative Technology. Web Wise KidsвЂ™ BeSeen app will be entered in the Next Generation: Kids & Creative Technology category.

We are so excited that BeSeen is continuing to receive recognition in our communities and helping to spread awareness to help teach our youth to be safer online. We are honored to have been selected as a finalist in the DATA Awards, and we forward to meeting all of the other finalists and learning about their innovative and creative projects.

The Design, Art and Technology Awards (DATA), known as PittsburgвЂ™s biggest creative tech party of the year, will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at the Grand Hall (614 Pressley Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212).

Reinforcing our Mission

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:59:00 GMT

This morning, I read this article about (http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/08/justice/texas-teen-flees/index.html) how a young teenage girl narrowly escaped from a Facebook predator. I am so grateful to hear that this teen was prevented from being another statistic; She was very lucky to escape, but there are so many other children who are not as fortunate. This situation is one of the reasons Web Wise Kids believes so strongly in education and prevention. There is an old saying that states вЂњan ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.вЂќ It is a basic yet profoundly important message for teens online: do not give out personal information and do not plan to meet in real life someone you know only online. Predators are excellent at making their victims feel like they are safe and comfortable in the relationship. Sometimes they even feel that they are in love. Parents need to be watching what online relationships their children are a part of because especially tweens and teens are susceptible to the lures and lies of online predators. We all need to help equip our children to have safe and rewarding experiences online. Judi Westberg Warren President of Web Wise Kids