"Obama has said he would also focus on protecting online privacy of users and improve access to broadband Internet services by increasing speed standards for broadband and freeing up more government spectrum for public use."

I'm pleased that the new Administration considers online privacy to be a significant issue.  Sounds like the Obama Administration agrees with my view that online privacy is the ultimate online safety concern.

This was the third time I have seen the documentary and every time I learn something new.  It truly is an incredible video that every family should sit down and watch together. The producer, Rachel Dretzin, was there to answer questions about the documentary and explain to the crowd why she was inspired to make this film. She shared some of the incredible feedback she has received over the past couple of months from families across the country.

Following the screening, Stephen Balkam, the CEO of FOSI, along with Anne Collier, (author of "MySpace Unraveled") led a roundtable discussion about what the current problems and challenges we are facing with our kids who have grown up online - and how do we go about educating parents on how to respond to this problem.

Our very busy day was a fascinating experience and turned out to be one of the most candid, open discussions I've heard on how to keep kids safe online. We need to educate parents about what their kids are doing online. I think many parents do not know what their kids are up to on their computers and even if parents do have an idea - they might not know how to respond to it. Our discussion was a great way to hear the ideas from leaders in the field and to start working together to give parents the education they need.  I plan to keep this discussion going to help address online safety and privacy concerns!

The Summit panel discussion topics included new debates about intermediary liability on the Internet, online behavioral advertising, marketing and privacy, and next generation network policy.   In addition, there was a fascinating panel discussion about communications and information policy with government officials from Mexico, Germany, Japan and Spain.  Ambassador David Gross (US Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy with the U.S. Department of State) served as moderator for the session.

I spoke at one of the program's working dinners, addressing "Kids, Media and Marketing:  Child Safety and Privacy in a Web 2.0 World."  This working dinner discussion, moderated by PFF's Adam Thierer, focused on legislative and regulatory proposals that would regulate various types of media content, platforms, or forms of online communications and commerce in response to child safety and privacy concerns.  The lively off-the-record discussion also included remarks from several congressional staff, as well as representatives from Microsoft, MySpace.com, and the Family Online Safety Institute.

I spoke about the results of my online safety survey conducted a few months ago,, highlighting the generational differences regarding safety and the respondents overwhelming concern about protecting personal privacy.

Overall, the Summit provided me with some thoughtful new views on communications policy issues both in the U.S. and abroad, current policy debates, as well as the issues we need to consider in the future.

This is a very interesting development in the online world -- virtual communities setting and enforcing their own laws!  Just as my colleague Stephen Balkam from FOSI said in the article, I too applaud efforts to reduce abusive behavior in virtual worlds.  Now not only are our kids getting into trouble in virtual worlds, but they are also punishing each other in these virtual worlds.  It should be a red flag to parents: they need to be fully aware of what is going on online. As the online world evolves, parents need to keep up with what is happening in order to supervise their kids' online experiences.

*           Almost half (48%) of wired Older Americans age 65 and older strongly agree the Internet can be a dangerous place
*           39% of those age 50-64
*           32% of those age 35-49  
*           21% of those age 18-34 

As part of the survey, we asked the same questions of teens and their parents in the same household and compared answers. We found that 31% of these teens strongly agree the Internet can be dangerous.

These generational gaps are quite revealing. It's interesting that the older the Internet users are, the greater their concern that they "can put themselves in danger."   While Internet users under the age of 34 are the least worried that "people can put themselves in danger on the Internet," they tend to be the age group more willing to post pictures and personal information about themselves online!

Younger Internet users could be unaware that the information they are sharing can have consequences for their personal privacy. In today's digital world it is important to make sure that all generations  do not put themselves in danger. Let's keep the conversation going with our kids - and our parents - about staying safe online. There are many helpful tools available on the web and from our ISPs.  Now is the time to use them.

·        52 percent of parents say they sit alongside their teenager whenever they are online to monitor activity; but only 33% of teens in those same households confirm that

·        51 percent of parents say they visit their teen's social networking site; 30% of teens confirm that

Hmm... the numbers just don't quite match up. It seems that parents may think they are monitoring their teens, but their teens are saying that they aren't monitoring as closely as they think they are.

In the Web 2.0 world we live in, being online is a necessity.  But the results from this survey make me stop and think about what kind of questions this raises. What are the implications of this for consumers?  For society?  When we're online, how do we ensure that we are in charge of the information collected about us and how it is used? Are we even aware that what we put out there- either knowingly or unknowingly- compromises our privacy?

One of the most important set of results I found in the survey focuses on the fact that almost everyone is very concerned about safety and their privacy when surfing the Internet. I've listed some of the percentages below that stress how important it is to people.
• 95 percent feel that Internet safety is a very important or somewhat important issue to them 
• 97 percent feel that protecting personal privacy is very or somewhat important to them
• 56 percent feel they do not have enough or no privacy at all online
• Across generations, protecting personal privacy is very or somewhat important to 99 percent of Older Americans, 98 percent of parents and 93 percent of teens

When it comes to privacy, I was surprised by some of opinions found on the survey. One concerned consumer said:

"I don't think there is such a thing as personal privacy when it comes to the Internet.  Anything you put out there, anyone can see."

That's a pretty bold statement. But a statement that seems to reflect what many people believe. It seems that people are aware of the lack of privacy they have on the Internet, they are very concerned about their privacy, but then they still put personal information online. Maybe people aren't fully aware that every time they post pictures or visit websites that virtual breadcrumbs are being left on the Internet that can later be traced?

As this article astutely points out, our kids' personal information is being accessed by a startling number of interests outside of their social networking "friends".  While some may be aware of the dangers presented by online predators, they are far less conscious of the other safety consequences of sharing personal information.

As it becomes more common to require users to have their personal information shared or stored online in order to participate on the Internet, we are becoming increasingly vulnerable to personal and financial security threats.

Has the time come to demand more control over personal information throughout the Internet spectrum? At the very least, parents should have a conversation with their kids about the full range of online safety issues to help them understand the importance of personal privacy.

It was an opportunity for over 100 school kids to openly discuss their experiences with cyberbullying and how to combat this online threat.  When the kids in the audience were asked if they had ever experienced cyberbullying, almost all the hands went up in the room.  Yet, very few then indicated that they had told a parent about their experience. 

Tina Meier, the mother of a teen who committed suicide after experiencing cyberbullying, spoke eloquently about her daughter's experience.   Her heartbreaking story has helped to ignite a real movement to address this online safety issue.

For online safety advocates, we need to consider what it takes to keep kids safe from the devastating impact of cyberbullying.   One participant said that in order to address the problem, "it takes a school bus."   Parents, educators, the industry, and kids each need to take responsibility and work together to stop cyberbullying. 

Tomorrow, the conference continues in New York City to consider how the industry, working together with the community, can help address cyberbullying and protect our kids online.

For more information on cyberbullying check out www.stopcyberbullying.org

Now I know these tragic cases are far and few, but the underlying message is that with anonymity on the Internet, parents and their kids need to recognize that giving false information out to strangers - even when it's just for fun - can lead to dangerous situation from cyberbullying to online predators.

In an article in the Orlando Sentinel, Portland State University senior research associate, Kris Gowan is quoted saying:

"Parents can't assume that their children are isolated from social-networking sites. If they don't log on at home, they'll log on at a friend's house or through their Web-enabled cell phones. There's really nothing new here. Kids have been lying about their ages for years to get what they want. What's new is that the Internet has broader implications for our youth, with severe repercussions."

And this is true. Kids, especially girls have always tried to appear older than they are to attract attention from guys. They also have constant access to the Internet on their cell phones and iphones, they can log into social networking sites any time they want! Some kids are more inclined to engage in risky behaviors -- online and offline.  Parents need to step in and talk to their kids about Internet use and find out what social networks they are joining and what websites they are visiting because the implications can be much more severe.

* If you are shopping online - a great convenience and possible cost-saving opportunity - be mindful of possible scams. Entering credit card information is safe on secured sites. These secured sites start with https or shttp at the beginning of the web address or have a padlock to show the site is secured.   Use one credit card for all of your online purchases. This makes it easier to track your charges at the close of each month..

* Some sites and email communications can be scams. Emails requesting banking information are known as "phishing" scams that attempt to lure victims with official looking emails that request personal financial information.  Legitimate banks will not request this sort of information online.   Never provide any personal financial information or bank account information in response to a request online.

* When joining online social communities for various hobbies, be careful about the personal information you provide online. Using a separate email specifically for online communities is a good rule of thumb. Never reveal your full name, address or other identifying traceable information.

* This is also true for online dating websites - which can be a great way to meet people. There are several different sites devoted to adults over the age of 65, and if you're using these sites, be careful about what information you give out.  Because the Internet can offer anonymity, there's ample opportunity for someone to create other identities. Ask potential dates a series of detailed questions; the more answers you seek, the less interest a scammer will have in deceiving you.  If you have met someone online who wants to meet you in person, select a busy public place and consider taking along a friend.

Looking for more information? SeniorNet, Oasis, and AT&T offer great services and programs for older Americans online.