Campaign to address online safety and digital citizenship in a fun, positive way
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Sept. 16, 2014) — National PTA® announced today the launch of #ShareAwesome, a national campaign supported by LifeLock, Inc. (NYSE: LOCK), the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, to celebrate positive use of digital and social media and to empower families to make smart, safe decisions when using the Internet and mobile devices. With the continued proliferation of the use of technology among children and teens, #ShareAwesome is designed to spotlight and address important issues of online safety and digital citizenship in a fun, positive way. National PTA is kicking off the campaign with the #ShareAwesome contest.
“Today’s families use technology in every aspect of life – from learning and socializing to gaming and shopping. While technology has opened up a world of opportunities, it is important to engage students, families, educators and communities and foster safe, positive use of digital and social media,” said Otha Thornton, president of National PTA. “We are excited to launch the #ShareAwesome campaign with the support of LifeLock to celebrate the use of technology in positive ways; help families to have an open, ongoing conversation about the role of technology in our everyday lives; and build an understanding that – no matter the device, app or networking site – the skills needed to be safe and positive online are similar to those needed offline.”
The #ShareAwesome contest encourages youth ages 13 to 17 to capture awesome moments they experience or awesome decisions they or others make and share them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #ShareAwesome. Ten finalists will be selected to submit a video illustrating how they are encouraging #ShareAwesome in their school and among their peers. Finalists will be recognized with a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 and the grand prize winner of the contest will be awarded a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and a $2,500 scholarship. The contest runs through Nov. 30, 2014.
In addition to the contest, the campaign features an online hub of information and tools for students, families and educators created in collaboration with expert advisors from ConnectSafely.org and Common Sense Media. The site includes quizzes for students and parents to test their digital and social media savviness; a pledge to inspire family members and friends to be safer, smarter, more positive digital citizens; tools to educate families and host events at schools focused on the topic; and a compilation of #ShareAwesome contest submissions.
“With kids getting more tech savvy than ever, families are struggling to adapt and build positive habits both online and off,” said Hilary Schneider, president of LifeLock. “They need new tools to keep the conversation about online safety going. That’s why we’re thrilled to help them through our partnership with National PTA and the #ShareAwesome campaign.”
For more information about the campaign and to #ShareAwesome, visit shareawesomenow.org.
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 parent involvement 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, Inc.
LifeLock, Inc. (NYSE:LOCK) is a leading provider of proactive identity theft protection services for consumers and identity risk and credit worthiness assessment for enterprises. LifeLock's threat detection, proactive identity alerts, and comprehensive remediation services 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 fraud 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 non-profit organizations to help consumers establish positive habits to combat this threat.