WebWiseKids Blog : wwk

Web Wise Kids Featured in eSchool News!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:45:00 GMT

A report from eSchool News came out which lists the top ten ways that schools can teach students about Internet safety. The number one method to teach kids is to use games, and Web Wise Kids is listed as a resource. You can read the rest of the report here. (we're featured on pages 53 and 70).

For over 10 years, Web Wise Kids has been creating games that teach youth about digital citizenship. We have a collection of games ranging from вЂ?ItвЂ™s Your CallвЂ™-- a game for tweens and teens that effectively addresses cyber bullying and empowers youth to make wise and respectful choices in their digital lives and in society-- to BeSeen, our newest mobile app that teaches kids how to be safe across social networks. 10 million youth throughout the nation have experienced our programs.

We're honored to be listed as a resource on eSchool News, and we hope the word about our games continues to spread.

Would a Lift on Age Restriction Be Good for Kids on Facebook?

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:52:00 GMT

Facebook has been considering lifting its age restriction on accounts and opening up its accounts to kids. (for more information, you can read this article.

If the FCC вЂњokaysвЂќ this move, it could be an important help for parents with tweens. As the article says, millions of tweens are online under false names and therefore not under supervision. As long as the tween can sign up under their parents account and the parents are provided with parental controls, I think this would add an important level of accountability. In no instance should tweens be allowed unsupervised access to social networking sites.

One element I believe still missing is education. Web Wise Kids and Carnegie Mellon University have created an educational game "BeSeen" which mirrors a social network and provides valuable learning experiences for middle schoolers. The game is a little like training wheels for a social networking experience; The kids create an avatar and enter in to the simulated social network therefore having the opportunity to make choices about how to handle the situations which occur. Kids learn the consequences of their decisions and get to remake choices that end up with negative outcomes.

BeSeen is a free download for smart phones from the iPhone and Android app store and helps prepare kids to "make wise choices on social networks". WeвЂ™ve also created supplemental classroom materials for teachers and parents to use to further the discussion of the game with their children. Those materials are also available for free here.

BeSeen Featured in SecretlyNetwork.com!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:17:00 GMT

Our BeSeen app was featured in SecretlyNetwork.com's blog about best mobile applications for kids! Web Wise Kids is honored to be listed by Secretly Networking as a recommendation for Best Apps for Kids, and we are delighted to be included with so many other great apps.

What Can BeSeen Teach Your Kids?

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:07:00 GMT

Our BeSeen App is an online safety mobile application 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.

To get a full understanding of what our BeSeen app can teach your children, watch our official training video here.

Our BeSeen app is available to download for free on both Apple and Android platforms. To download the app and supplemental classroom materials (for free!), please click here.

BeSeen Has Global Appeal!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:52:00 GMT

You Said It. BeSeen Has Global Appeal!

Word Is Spreading About The New BeSeen Lesson Materials!
It's only been a few weeks since we created a download page for the new BeSeen lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website. But in that short time, here's what we've seen:

* We had 110 downloads of the complete lesson materials which will now start filtering through families, teachers and youth directors around the world - over 11,000 impressions!

* In the U.S., the materials were downloaded in 30 states!

* Overall, we had recent downloads in 8 different countries including South Africa,Peru, Canada, Nigeria, Columbia, United Kingdom and New Zealand! If you are among this group, thank you for being one of the first to begin formally teaching online safety via the BeSeen game. And be sure to share your feedback with us at [email protected].

Here's What You Are Saying About BeSeen!
"I work for law enforcement and go to all schools in the county and most of the city to discuss various topics, including on-line safety. I plan on using your information to update my presentations and to continue makng education fun." --- El Paso,TX
"Can't wait to see this one - we use Missing and love it need it for newer computers or iPads. --- Ft. Clahoun, NE
"Loved using the Missing Game and thrilled you came out with something new :)" ---Tolland, CT
"I appreciate these resources made available to teachers...." --- Berkeley, CA
"Anxious to try this app and offer it to students. Thank you!" --- Tustin, CA
"Hey, I didn't know about this app!!!!" --- Penn Laird, VA
"I want teach my students how to be safe on social media. I don't speak English, but I'm working with the teachers on ESL." --- Santiago, Chile
"We would like to build in a link to these materials from our site. This and BeSeen would fit into our Digital Citizenship section really well" --- Clinton Twp, MI

Thank you for all this feedback and positive encouragement! We are so excited to see where you take BeSeen over the coming weeks. Who can you share BeSeen with today?

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 .

BeSeen Classroom Materials a Hit!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:44:00 GMT

Our new BeSeen program that provides downloadable lesson plans вЂ“ complete with handouts, worksheets, instructional videos, and 12 lesson plans-- allows educators, youth directors and parents to instantly begin sharing the benefits of BeSeen with their kids.

So far, the materials have been downloaded 65 times in 20 states and five countries (hello to our friends across the US and in South Africa, the UK, Peru and Canada)!

These classroom materials give teachers a step-by-step guide for leading students through the materials. We designed them to help facilitate discussions and dialogue with your students as they are playing the game. BeSeen is a valuable learning tool вЂ“ but it is also fun for kids!

We hope that those who have downloaded our materials have found them useful so far, and that other parents and educators will continue to download and use our BeSeen materials.

You can download our BeSeen Classroom Materials for FREE here!

BeSeen to Launch in USA Today

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:16:00 GMT

Watch our president, Judi Westberg Warren, talk about our upcoming BeSeen app launch in USA Today.

Click here to watch

Web Wise Kids' New Official Speaker Discusses Organization Mission

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:30:00 GMT

Watch Web Wise Kids' newest trainer and official speaker, Rommel Anacan, speak more about our organization's missions and goals here

Web Wise Kids And The Fight Against Bullying

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:04:00 GMT

A new documentary from The Weinstein Company called Bully is about to hit theaters and aims to raise awareness about AmericaвЂ™s bullying epidemic. Unfortunately, the MPAA recently announced that the film will receive a вЂњRвЂќ rating and restrict minors from attending the movie without an adult present. If bullying is a problem that primarily affects children and teens, shouldnвЂ™t they be allowed to see it most? Web Wise Kids, a leader in the fight against cyber-bullying and for online safety believes so. Katy Butler knows what it means to be bullied. She was harassed, picked on, and even physically abused by bullies in her school. In fact, Katy was once shoved into a wall and had a locker slammed on her hand that actually broke her finger. When Katy heard that this movie would receive an вЂњRвЂќ rating, she decided to start a petition on Change.org and get people involved. In response, The Weinstein Company appealed the MPAAвЂ™s decision and asked for the movie to be reconsidered for a вЂњPG-13вЂќ rating. Unfortunately the appeal failed but Katy doesnвЂ™t see this as a reason to give up. Web Wise Kids, a national non-profit organization and recognized leader in Internet safety education, supports the motion for the MPAA to reduce this movieвЂ™s rating. KatyвЂ™s perseveranceвЂ™s deserve to be amended and with your help the petition can continue to make progress toward making Bully available for all teens to see. To sign KatyвЂ™s petition, please visit: http://www.change.org/petitions/mpaa-dont-let-the-bullies-win-give-bully-a-pg-13-instead-of-an-r-rating?utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert To learn more about Web Wise Kids, please visit. http://www.webwisekids.org

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