March 2 , 2010

New site helps parents become "Web Aware"
Online safety week opens in Calgary

In honour of Calgary's Online Safety Week, Media Awareness Network (MNet) launched an enhanced Be Web Aware Web site today, to better reflect changes in digital media that have occurred in recent years.

The Be Web Aware site, which was originally developed in 2004, is an authoritative Canadian source of information on the benefits and the risks of the Internet for children and youth.

"There have been significant changes in the Internet since we created this site, including social networking, virtual worlds, wireless technologies and micro blogging. We also now know a lot more about the impact of new technologies on children," said Cathy Wing, MNet's Co-Executive Director. "We are pleased that with the redesigned site, Canadian parents will have access to the most up-to-date information, tips and research on what children are doing online."

The optimized site guides adults through the Internet activities that young people are engaged in. The Be Web Aware site philosophy emphasizes that parents keep their children's online experiences positive by: learning about what their kids are doing; communicating with them; and participating in their online activities.

"The redesign of the site was made possible through funding received from Bell.

The original Be Web Aware site was created through a partnership of MNet, Bell and Microsoft Canada, as part of a national public education program on Internet safety. The objective is to ensure young Canadians benefit from the Internet, while being safe and responsible in their online activities.