Free Online Tool Empowers Families to Set Technology Ground Rules as More Kids Go Digital

National PTA® and LifeLock, Inc., Collaborate to Build the Next
Generation of Digital Citizens through “The Smart Talk” Digital Toolkit

TEMPE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, LifeLock, Inc., and National PTA® announced a new, free resource
for families that helps parents have clear conversations with their
children about using technology and agree on ground rules together.
Called The
Smart Talk
, the digital tool is designed to empower families to make
smarter, safer choices online and help build the next generation of
digital citizens.


“Being a parent is a balancing act, especially when it comes to managing
kids and their devices,” said Hilary Schneider, president of LifeLock,
“Together with National PTA, we are giving parents a way to make a hard
and complex discussion easier.”

The announcement is part of a two-year collaboration between LifeLock,
Inc. (NYSE: LOCK), a leader in proactive identity theft protection, and
National PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy
association, that’s aimed to encourage families to have an open, ongoing
conversation about making positive, safe decisions online. According to
a recent survey by LifeLock, technology is playing an ever-increasing
role in our lives, with the majority of children receiving their first
smart phone between the ages of 8 and 12. While 79 percent of families
have technology agreements with their children, only 6 percent of those
are written.1

The Smart Talk provides an interactive experience that guides kids and
parents through a series of questions and conversations about topics
such as safety and privacy, screen time, social media, apps and
downloads, texting and calling, reputation and respect, and online
videos and cameras. After agreeing on healthy limits together, a
personalized, official family agreement can be stored on the computer or
printed and posted at home.

“Technology has opened up a world of opportunities in every aspect of
life and is essential for the development of skills children need to
thrive. As parents, we want our children to learn and have fun through
technology, and at the same time, stay safe and develop healthy
lifestyles,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive
director. “The Smart Talk gives families a roadmap to have open
conversations and establish rules to safely use technology and be
responsible citizens in the digital world.”

Parents frequently ask what the right age is to give their child a
smartphone or other device. Common Sense Media recommends using the
following set of discussion questions to determine if children are ready
for the responsibility of having a device.

  • Does your child show a sense of responsibility, such as letting you
    know when they leave the house? Do they show up when they say they
    will?
  • Does your child tend to lose things, such as backpacks or homework
    folders?
  • Does your child need to be able to contact you at any time for safety
    reasons?
  • Would having easy access to friends benefit your child for social
    reasons?
  • Do you think your child will use cell phones responsibly — for
    example, not texting during class or disturbing others with their
    phone conversations?
  • Can your child adhere to limits you set for minutes talked and apps
    downloaded?
  • Will your child use text, photo and video functions responsibly and
    not to embarrass or harass others?

For parents looking to begin the conversation today, tips and more
information on device and internet accountability are available now on
The Smart Talk website at https://thesmarttalk.org/.
More conversation can also be found here: https://www.facebook.com/thesmarttalk.

The Smart Talk videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mie0U8eMWBw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3q7CLPAALI

Additional Resources From Common Sense Media

Parent Concerns in General: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent-concerns
Advice
Videos: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/video/advice
Parent
Blog: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog
Family
Guide to Essential Apps: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/guide/best-first-kids-apps
Healthy
Media Habits Infographic: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/pediatricians

About National PTA

National
PTA
® comprises millions of families, students, teachers,
administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the
educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement
in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit association that
prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant
resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public
education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved
and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children
and youth.

About LifeLock

LifeLock, Inc. (NYSE:LOCK) is a leading provider of proactive identity
theft protection services for consumers and consumer risk management
services for enterprises. LifeLock’s threat detection, proactive
identity alerts, and comprehensive remediation services help provide
peace of mind for consumers amid the growing threat of identity theft.
Leveraging unique data, science and patented technology from ID
Analytics, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, LifeLock offers identity
theft protection that goes significantly beyond credit monitoring. As
part of its commitment to help fight identity theft, LifeLock works to
train law enforcement and partners with a variety of non-profit
organizations to help consumers establish positive habits to combat this
threat.

1 Commissioned study conducted by ResearchNow on behalf of
LifeLock, adults 18 and older were surveyed online between July 20-24,
2015.

Contacts

LifeLock
Becca Youngs, 480-427-2170
media@lifelock.com
or
National
PTA
Heidi May Wilson, 703-518-1242
hmay@pta.org

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