National PTA and LifeLock Help Parents With
Back-To-School To-Do List With “The Smart Talk”
Free
online tool helps families set technology ground rules as more kids go digital
·
The
majority of children receive their first smartphone between the ages of 8 and
121
·
Written
agreements tend to have a higher success rate than verbal agreements
·
A child’s
identity and well-being can be compromised by their online behavior
SAN
FRANCISCO, Calif., (Aug. 25, 2016)—Everyone
knows about the inevitable “birds and the bees” talk between parents and their
kids, but what about the “texts and the tweets?” That’s another “talk” that’s
rising in importance, especially during the
back-to-school season when parents prep their kids with the latest gear and
gadgets. National PTA and LifeLock created The Smart Talk—a
free, online tool to help families set ground rules for technology use and have
open, ongoing conversations about online safety and responsibility.
The creation of The Smart Talk is part of a two-year collaboration
between LifeLock, Inc. (NYSE: LOCK), a
leader in proactive identity theft protection, and National
PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association, that’s
aimed to encourage families to have an open, ongoing conversation about making
positive, safe decisions online.
“In the fast-moving digital world, a child’s identity and well-being
can be compromised by their online behavior,” said LifeLock CEO Hilary
Schneider, a mother of three. “As digital natives, today’s kids need to learn the
rules of the road for navigating life online. Many parents find the idea of
having the technology talk overwhelming because they don’t know what topics to
even begin to cover.”
Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in families’ lives and is
increasingly being used for teaching and learning. The majority of children receive
their first smart phone between the ages of 8 and 12, according to a 2015 LifeLock1
survey. While 79% of families have technology agreements with their
children, only 6% of those are written, which tend to have a higher success
rate than verbal ones among families that report having technology agreements1.
The Smart Talk engages kids
and parents in an interactive experience, leading them through a guided
conversation about five key areas:
·
Online safety and privacy
·
Screen time
·
Apps and downloads
·
Texting and calling
·
Social media and respect
Families then create a personalized agreement that can be stored on a
computer or printed and posted at home.
“Technology has opened up a
world of opportunities in every aspect of life and is essential for the
development of skills children need to thrive. As parents, we want our children
to learn and have fun through technology, and at the same time, stay safe and
develop healthy lifestyles,” said National PTA President Laura Bay, a mother of
three. “The Smart Talk brings families together for productive
conversations about devices and technology use to help children build good
digital habits and ensure they have the skills they need to be safe and
responsible online.”
Parents looking to begin the conversation today can visit The Smart
Talk website and review this quick
guide to get started. More information is available on The Smart Talk Facebook page and YouTube channel.
1Commissioned study conducted by ResearchNow on behalf of
LifeLock, adults 18 and older were surveyed online between July 20-24, 2015
About National PTA
National PTA® comprises
millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and
community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the
promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3)
nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all
children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong
advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to
be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of
children and youth.
About LifeLock
LifeLock, Inc. (NYSE:LOCK) is a leading provider of proactive identity
theft protection services for consumers and fraud and risk management solutions
for enterprises. LifeLock’s threat detection, proactive identity alerts, and
comprehensive remediation services help provide peace of mind for consumers
amid the growing threat of identity theft. Leveraging unique data, science and
patented technology from ID Analytics, Inc., a wholly -owned subsidiary,
LifeLock offers identity theft protection that goes beyond credit monitoring.
As part of its commitment to help fight identity theft, LifeLock works to train
law enforcement and partners with a variety of nonprofit organizations to help
consumers establish positive habits to combat this threat.
Media Contacts:
Jeff Davis & Sydney Brown
LifeLock, Inc.
480-457-2138
Heidi May Wilson
National PTA
703-518-1242
