About Be Web Aware

What is Be Web Aware?

Be Web Aware is a national, bilingual public education program on Internet safety. The objective of everyone involved in this project is to ensure young Canadians benefit from the Internet, while being safe and responsible in their online activities.

The goal of the Be Web Aware initiative is two-fold:

1. Raise awareness amongst parents that there are safety issues when their children go online and that they need to get involved.
   
   
2. Provide practical information and tools that will equip parents to effectively manage Internet use in the home and to teach their kids to be Web savy.

The Be Web Aware initiative includes public service announcements (PSAs) on television, radio, print and outdoor that direct parents to this comprehensive Be Web Aware site. The site, developed by Media Awareness Network, is full of information and tools to help parents teach their children to handle the potential risks associated with going online.

In 2006, the Be Web Aware partners launched a new series of print public service announcements (PSAs) Chat Room Chums. The PSAs raise awareness of the fact that individuals may sometimes misrepresent their identities online and young people should know that things are not always as they seem - especially on the Internet. The ads encourage parents to consult resources and information available to them on the Be Web Aware Web site so they can help their kids have positive online experiences and stay safe in all Internet environments.

Who are the partners?

The Be Web Aware campaign was developed by a steering committee composed of members from Bell, Microsoft and Media Awareness Network. As the project developed, many leading Canadian organizations joined the program (see Partners page) supporting the Be Web Aware initiative. Together, they invested substantial resources and in-kind support. That support covers a wide variety of contributions, including:

• developing and producing this Web site for parents.
  
  
• producing and running the Public Service Announcements (PSAs) through free space given by media companies and paid advertising by the partners.
  
  
• promoting the project on Web sites and portals that link parents to this site.

How can I become involved?

Other organizations are definitely welcome. Any organization that's interested in helping spread this message is welcome to participate. There are many ways to get involved, including:

• running the PSA in print or online publications.
  
  
• linking your site to the Be Web Aware site.
  
  
• promoting this great initiative for parents through communications with your employees, clients and organization members.

For more information on joining the Be Web Aware coalition, contact: info@media-awareness.ca.