NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Kids Get The 4-1-1, Parents Get Peace Of Mind From Novaz Net Resources

Free Collaborative Online Safety Program

Novaz Net Resources is excited to announce the launch of "the 4-1-1.com," an Internet community for children and teens that offers a revolutionary approach to protecting them from online predators. The site offers everything that's available on other like-social networking sites, but it also works through a specific registration process and constant monitoring to keep child predators out.

The site's launch coincides with a Congressional seminar recently held in Washington, D.C., with representatives of State Attorneys General Offices speaking, as well as others, such as leading online verification firms working to develop technology that will identify and block child predators from such sites. The seminar, hosted by The Progress & Freedom Foundation, a market-oriented think tank that studies today's digital revolution and its implication for public policy, provided a platform for debate on the need and feasibility for age-verification in social networking sites.

"The 4-1-1 idea simply came from need," said Novaz President Bryant Campbell. "The Internet has a lot to offer but seems to ignore age-based platforms. The one-size-fits-all models are failing Internet users below the age of 17."

Online communities are growing more popular every day. One, which now hosts more than 140 million registered users, has proven to Novaz the need for greater security. An Ohio newspaper conducted a study of that site, cross-checking the names, addresses, descriptions and even photographs of 142 of the county's registered sex offenders, against those registered on the community Web site. The news-source found 17 of the sex offenders were active, registered users on the site.

"There's no shortage of bad-guys out there," said Chris Holloway, project manager for the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice's Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, a federally funded grant program that supports local communities in circumventing Internet crimes against children. "It's nearly impossible to quantify the dangers to children on the Internet.

"Since our inception in 1998, we've logged over 8 million suspect transactions online through undercover methodology," Holloway explained. "Parents are highly encouraged to monitor their kids' activity online because filtering and blocking services are only as good as a parent's willingness to use them."

Online Victimization of Youth, a 2006 study conducted by the University of New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Research Center, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, shows Internet use by teens is sharply on the rise with the growing popularity of social networking sites that allow kids to chat, blog, instant message each other and share photographs and videos. However, it also shows online child predators are also on the rise.

Three in 10 children between the age of 12 and 14 said they have been sexually solicited while online - particularly while chatting and using instant messaging. That number doubles for kids between 15 and 17 years of age. Likewise, the numbers look the same for the same age groups who have been exposed to unwanted sexual material while online, including photographs of naked people, people having sex and other improprieties including violent imagery.

"Other popular, networking sites claim screening is impossible and can't be done," Campbell said. "Novaz and the 4-1-1 are taking on that challenge. Our key is a collaborative registration process that gets schools, parents and teens to play a part."

Novaz is encouraging schools and other youth groups to take advantage of its free registration process, which allows a single moderator - chosen by the school or organization - to register up to 50 kids in a single setting, after students have provided a signed permission slip from their parents. Once registered, the moderator will notify parents via e-mail so that they themselves can activate the account, giving their child access to the4-1-1.com community.

"Our Group Registration process screens predators and unwelcome adults from our community, while giving teens an open and free community to have fun and network," Campbell explained. "Where Group Registration is not available, we also offer a Parent for Student Registration. For a one-time fee of $20, the 4-1-1 can properly verify parents who vouch for their teen's online membership, giving parents and teens a verified shared account with the help of IDology ">.

"This measure meets usernamepassword accessibility and account monitoring where other online social programs cannot," he continued. "This process also ensures parental improprieties will lead local law enforcement right to their front door."

Kids, parents, administrators and youth-group leaders are encouraged to visit www.the4-1-1.com today, and see all that it has to offer. From chat rooms, file sharing and e-cards, to clubs, music and news. An entire community - your community - is waiting.

"We are very excited. Novaz is making it easier and more accessible to meet local needs by focusing on community-based programs on a grassroots level," Campbell said. "The Internet offers something for everyone, but not every place is for everyone. We are proud to take the lead in offering teens, parents and your community an opportunity to participate in the 4-1-1 - a safe, secure online community."

Bryant Campbell, president of Novaz Net Resources, is available for interviews upon request. For more information, call 608-239-6359.
HTML: http://www.eworldwire.com/pressreleases/16891
PDF: http://www.eworldwire.com/pdf/16891.pdf
ONLINE NEWSROOM: http://www.eworldwire.com/newsroom/312008.htm
RSS NEWSROOM: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/xml/newsrooms/312008.xml

     
   Novaz Net Resources
   WI,    USA
   608-239-6359 (phone)
   campbell@novaz.net
   the4-1-1.com