ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Liberty Global, Inc. (?Liberty Global?) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK), together with European Schoolnet (EUN) and the European Commission, has today launched a video that tackles the parental concern of ?Who are your kids talking to online?? to mark the 10th anniversary of Safer Internet Day. This three-minute video is the first in a series of animations called ?The Digital Universe of Your Children? that aims to help parents strengthen their digital parenting skills by empowering them with the knowledge and resources needed to protect their children online.
?Who are your kids talking to online?? provides practical tips on eight key online issues that youngsters might encounter when using the web, including: Privacy on Social Networks, Online Gaming, Blocking, Risks Online, Online Friends, Meeting Strangers, Personal Information, and Online Reputation. The video will be rolled out across Liberty Global?s operations and is available in several language versions including English, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Czech, and Spanish. To view the video visit the Liberty Global CR Video Gallery.
Manuel Kohnstamm, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of Liberty Global said, ?We believe that the best way to protect younger users is to educate and empower them with the information and tools they need to safeguard themselves. Building on the tools that we have created to date, this appealing new animation series encourages parents to actively engage with their children regarding their online activities. Digital parenting in an open dialogue should be a natural part of modern parenthood."
Facts and information provided by the animation draw on findings from the EU Kids Online Study. Professor Sonia Livingstone, Professor of Social Psychology at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Director of the Study said, ?I really welcome the development of this lively and engaging resource, as it does a great job of informing parents about what their children are doing online. It?s important to debunk some myths and realize that, for most children, the internet is far more an opportunity than a source of worry.?
?This animation gives some helpful tips, based on the specific insights from our pan-European survey of 25,000 children and parents. The idea is that rather than feeling excluded or worrying in private, parents can find a way to share, discuss or join in with some of their children?s experience online and so guide them all the more effectively?, she added.
Connect with Respect
This year's Safer Internet Day theme, ?Online rights and responsibilities?, aims to encourage users to 'Connect with respect' and to be aware of their rights and responsibilities in ensuring a safe and sustainable digital environment.
European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes, responsible for the Digital Agenda and for launching the strategy to make a better internet for children, recognizes that the internet offers young people great opportunities ? but that they need to be able to go online safely. In her video message for Safer Internet Day she said, ?Tomorrow's world, our economy and society, will be a digital one: and kids will have to play a full part in that. By encouraging creativity online, we can help kids make positive use of the internet. If we help children and young people develop their digital skills safely, they can make the most of the online world, with the abilities and tools to learn, participate, and have fun online.?
Lead Partner of Safer Internet Day since 2006
Liberty Global has been one of the main partners of Safer Internet Day since 2006 and annually marks the occasion across its operations through local eSafety initiatives. Over the years, Liberty Global has actively developed programs and engaged in campaigns that support the European Commission?s Digital Agenda for Europe, including increasing trust and security, delivering ultra-fast broadband speeds, enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion, and developing ICT solutions for social challenges.
The company has worked closely with Insafe, the EU organization for internet safety awareness in Europe, to create the following internet safety tools for children including: ?Play and Learn: Being Online? for children aged 4-8 years which is available in 16 languages; ?Family eSafety Kit? targeting 6-12 year olds, available in 18 languages; and the latest resource, ?The Web We Want? aimed at teens aged 13-16 years. Over one million copies of the ?Family eSafety Kit? and 100,000 copies of the ?Play and Learn: Being Online? have been distributed across the world to date.
About Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is part of a global drive by awareness-raising partners to promote a safer and better internet for all users, especially young people. It is organized by Insafe and INHOPE in the framework of the European Commission?s Safer Internet Program. For further information, see www.saferinternetday.org. Safer Internet Day 2013 will be the tenth edition of the event, and will be celebrated on Tuesday February 5, 2013.
About European Schoolnet & Insafe
European Schoolnet (EUN), in Brussels, is a network of 30 Ministries of Education in Europe and beyond. EUN was created 16 years ago to bring innovation in teaching and learning to its key stakeholders: Ministries of Education, schools, teachers, and researchers. More information: www.eun.org
Insafe also based in Brussels, is a European network of Awareness Centers promoting safe, responsible use of the internet and mobile devices to young people. It is co-funded by the Safer Internet Program from the European Commission. More information: www.saferinternet.org
About Liberty Global
Liberty Global is the leading international cable company, with operations in 13 countries. We connect people to the digital world and enable them to discover and experience its endless possibilities. Our market-leading television, broadband internet and telephony services are provided through next-generation networks and innovative technology platforms that connect 20 million customers who subscribe to 34 million services as of September 30, 2012.
Liberty Global?s consumer brands include UPC, Unitymedia KabelBW, Telenet and VTR. Our operations also include Chellomedia, our content division, UPC Business, a commercial services division and Liberty Global Ventures, our investment fund.
To find out more about how Liberty Global is 'Promoting a Digital Society' click here.
For more information, please visit www.lgi.com or contact cr@lgi.com.