The NFL’s New Orleans Saints are the 2010 Super Bowl champs. While they certainly were the winners, tipping the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, there were also other victors on Sunday. One was Go Daddy, the Internet domain registar and web hosting company. Go Daddy has earned attention by producing attention-grabbing, and arguably, controversial ads for Super Bowl Sunday.

This year was no exception. One advertisement showed Go Daddy spokesperson, Indy car driver, Sports Illustrated and potential NASCAR racer Danica Patrick on fake TV news show and played on the company’s past controversial ads. Another Go Daddy ad on Sunday showed a masseuse trying to convince Patrick that she should be a Go Daddy girl.

While the company is definitely getting its name out there with these ads, the smart marketer is also drawing people to its website. The site promises “Internet Only” versions of both ads as well as the TV version of an ad it reports was banned from being aired. The “banned” ad, called “Lola,” is about a gay football player who wants to make lingerie.

As the Super Bowl is often a family event, parents might have found themselves trying to explain those ads to their kids. Or they might be concerned about their offspring going online to see the “Internet Only” versions.

Communication about appropriate content is very important. The website SafeSurfer.org is not only a safe place for kids online (with games and kid-friendly news), but also a source of information about safe surfing (Websafe section) for parents.

If parents are looking for a free, easy-to-use parental controls software product to block certain sites, they should check out PGsurfer. It lets parents set the parameters on Internet and computer use and keep an eye on their kids.

Robin

When you look at NBA player Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers, you are likely struck by how large he is. At 7-feet tall and 285 pounds of muscle, the oft-injured former No. 1 pick in the NBA draft dwarfs most of his teammates and opponents in a league where 6-foot-1 point guards are  considered “little guys.”

However, this week showed that Oden is many ways still just a kid. You have to remember he only attended one year of college at Ohio State - and that was only because of the NBA rules that forced him to. If they weren’t in place, there is no doubt that Oden would have made the jump straight to the pros like Boston Celtis star Kevin Garnett did or LA Lakers all-star Kobe Bryant or, of course, arguably the league’s most dominant plater, LeBron James.

While Oden has tried - in spite of injuries - to play against men, he made a mistake that has many comparing him to a teen. About a year and a half ago, Oden apparently sent explicit photos of himself via his cell phone to a woman he was in a relationship with. This is what is commonly called a “sext.” According to some surveys, as many as 30 per cent of U.S. teens sext. These texts, often including photos, are commonly sent between lovers but they have also becom weapons in cyberbullying. Depending on the ages of those involved, sexting could result in charges of child pornography.

While everyone was of age in Oden’s case, the photos have surfaced online (some say it is a publicity stunt). Oden was left apologizing. From KGW.com:

“It was definitely my fault you know, I shouldn’t have put myself out there like that and I have to learn from that,” said Oden, who hoped others would learn from his mistake.

In the aftermath, many have focused on how this should be a lesson to many. As we have been talking a lot in the last week about safe texting, I thought it would be good to bring up this example.

Robin

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SafeSurfer.org - A fun, kid-friendly place online that is packed with info about safe surfing

Canadians are a contradiction when it comes to Internet use, according to a Canwest News Service story that I read on the Victoria Times-Colonist website today.

According to the story, since 2008, comScore, Inc., which focuses on measuring things online for marketing, Canada is No. 1 for the adoption of social networking. Google says Canadians viewed 150 million street view images in other countries in the first nine months of 2009. When that company launched Street View in Canada, in October, the global traffic reportedly doubled on that day.

So, why then does a new survey show that Canadians are wary of their privacy being protected online? According to a study commissioned by Natural Resources Canada (why Natural Resources Canada? I have no idea), only 6 per cent say they can trust social networking sites to keep their personal info secure. Of the respondents, 79 per cent don’t trust these sites and the rest said they were neutral.

When it came to Street View, 36 per cent said that the images should not be allowed while 26 had the opposing view. The remainder were neutral.

I think this just shows that people understand how social networking and other websites can be useful and, in some situations, almost mandatory for some social interaction.

The wariness is a good thing if you ask me. If we don’t trust the sites, then we need to be very careful about what information we give out. It is not bad to play your cards close to your vest as they say.

Robin

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SafeSurfer.org - Be sure to check out this fun, safe place for kids online. It also has great information for parents about safe surfing,

If you haven’t checked it out already, be sure to see my colleague Kai’s post about textED.ca, an educational website about safe texting. Sexting is covered but also are important topics such as cyber-bullying.

Another component of the joint venture between the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association is a classroom component. It is to be taught in 100 Grade 7 classrooms across Canada this month with expansion to “full implementation” in the next school year.

I think the organizations behind the website and course should be applauded. It is especially heartening to see the telecommunications industry recognizing a problem and showing a social responsibility to try to combat it.

However, I was also struck by a recent National Post column on the subject by Marni Soupcoff. She makes the very important point that parents need to be involved so that sexting does not become an issue.

While most parents are familiar with iPhones and texting, they might not have the knowledge base to properly discuss the matter with their children. I would suggest they use textED.ca as a resource and even the Lingo page on SageSurfer.org, which will help them translate their offspring’s messages. Some of the same concerns about texting are also true of Internet use (bullying, revealing too much of yourself, overuse, etc.). SafeSurfer.org’s Websafe section is stuffed with information for parents about safe surfing. As well, the free parental controls software PGSurfer is a valuable tool to help parents online.

Robin

Today there was yet another example of:

a) You can’t believe everything you read online

b) Things never seem to go away online.

Today Twitter posts announcing the death of Johnny Depp, the star of countless movies (”Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Cry-Baby,” “Edward Scissorhands,” to name a few), spread rapidly according to news reports. Allegedly Depp had died in a car accident. However, People’s World’s Sexiest Man is alive and well. Allegedly this report goes back as far as 2004 and has resurfaced.

Depp, of course, is not the first victim of an online death hoax. Britney Spears, rapper/Taylor Swift interrupter Kayne West, “Twilight” actor Taylor Lautner,  “Up in the Air” star Geotrge Clooney, among other celebrities have also been proclaimed dead on the Net.

What is concerning is that one of the online reports looked very similar to CNN, a trusted news source. It just really shows us we can’t believe everything we read online. We can use today’s events to teach your children about what they can believe online.

Robin

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SafeSurfer.org - A safe place for young people online

Just what draws people to a website? Well, lately it appears it is “cute” animals giving birth.

On Jan. 23, a Shibu Inu dog named Kika became an Internet sensation for the second time by giving birth to a litter of puppies. Apparently more  than 100,000 computer users from 74 countries spent a combined 1.2 million hours watching her take care of her puppies. In 2008, people watched Kika take care of her first litter.

Computer users don’t just have puppy love for Internet animal births. Last week a bear in Ely, Minnesota attracted attention as she gave birth to a cub live via a webcam in her den. It is reported to be the first time a bear giving birth has been recorded live in the wild.

As a parent, I can understand that the miracle of birth is fascinating. As a parent, how would you approach this issue if your child asked to watch this online or said they has viewed it? Do you feel this is a potential learning tool? Do you, as I do, feel that the answer depends a great deal on the child’s age and maturity as the question might soon arise how did this cub or the puppies get into Mom’s tummy?

Robin

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For a safe place for your kids online as well as important advice about online safety, check out SafeSurfer.org

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, in association with the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, has recently launched textED.ca. The website shows youth the dangers of engaging in ‘textual relations’ without the necessary precautions.

Hipped up with categories like the 411, Xtras, and TxtRel101, the site aims to approach tech-savvy youth from their own terms and perspectives. Included are games, resolutions, tips, and cold hard facts about relationships and online interactions via text or instant messaging.

Sexting has been a hot topic in the news for some time, but the site does well expand around the subject, rather than dwell on it exclusively. There are certainly a wide range of threats for texting youths, not limited to exploitation, cyber-bullying, and loss of privacy. With its friendly and open-ended approach, the site is a welcome addition to the world of online child safety.

Along with information and discussion, a child’s tech-safety should also be backed up with a reliable parental controls software. Please visit our PGSurfer website for more details.

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I was shocked when Selkirk, Manitoba made its way into the national news this week. I have very fond memories of this small community near Winnipeg as I spent many summers at a nearby lake. However, as the recent news stories show, life is seemingly not idylic for some Selkirk youth.

Two Selkirk female Grade 9 students have been arrested and charged for sending threats via text messages and Intenet messaging services. Reportedly the 14-year-old girls had said they would bring weapons, including guns, to Selkirk Junior High. News stories have not yet said what prompted the girls’ threats.

Some fellow students told their parents about the threats. The police were then alerted.

An interesting part of this story is a mention in a news story that school policies are changing to deal with the Internet and social networking. The policies, according to the story, allow the schools “to take action if out-of-school activities threaten safety within the school.”

It another reminder that what you communicate online is not just for you and the person you are sending it to.

Robin

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SafeSurfer.org - A safe place for kids online

Just like everything in the world, Santa is getting pretty high tech. This year there are a few technological ways to enhance your children’s interactions with Santa.

If you child is a little worried that their letter won’t make it to the North Pole in time for Christmas, you can text (with some of the money supporting the March of Dimes) or chat live with Santa.

You can also set up a video message to your child from Santa that is delivered online, on the phone or through an iPhone application.

I remember when I was young the local TV station’s weatherman would always do a broadcast telling us where Santa was on his one-night trip around the world. In hindsight, the graphics were quite comical.

Nowadays, of course, you can follow Santa’s journey online. NORAD has a great, easy-to-use site. This year Santa is even Tweeting!

While these high-tech ways should not replace your family holiday traditions, they could put an even bigger smile on your child’s face this holiday season.

Robin

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Looking for a safe place for your children online, check out SafeSurfer.org

Do you know what your kids are searching for online? The results of a recently released study show it might not be what you think … or is it?

According to the study, based on 14.6 million searches between Feb. 2 and Dec. 4 by users under the age of 18 of a specific Internet product, “porn” and “sex” were the fourth and fifth most searched for terms. Young people only searched more for (in order) YouTube, Google and Facebook.

“Sex” was the No. 4 search term for teens (13-18) and tweens (8-12). It did not appear on the top 10 for the under 7 set, but, perhaps surprisingly, “porn” was their No. 4. It was No. 6 for teens and not in the tweens’ top 10.

In the end, the survey shows us that young peopel need to be educated about the net. They are likely just curious about the subject of sex but that could lead them into dangerous online situations and possibly compromise your family’s security and computer system. One step you can take is using the free, customizable parental controls product PGsurfer. You could also direct them to safe places online, such as SafeSurfer.org.

For me, this study and the data it contains raises some questions:

1. What as a parent do you do? Do you talk to your children about what is an appropriate search? Do you write it off as “kids being kids”?

2. Are boys and girls that different? According to the study, “sex” was the fourth most searched term by boys, followed by “porn.” For girls, the fourth most searched for term as country/pop songbird Taylor Swift, but “sex” was No. 5. Porn was not in the top 10.

3. Why are kids searching on their home computers for these terms? I am surprised young people are so blatant in this type of behavior. The data was compiled from homes that use a service to filter Internet use.

4. Why do people use search engines to find site they can easily type the URL for? YouTube, Facebook and Google can easily be found without a search engine.

Robin