Google has recently launched the “Be Internet Awesome” program, an initiative that aims to help parents and teachers alike in instilling the sense of positivity and kindness among online youth. The initiative is spearheaded by Google and its three partners – the Family Online Safety Insititute, Internet Keep Safe Coalition, and ConnectSafely. In an effort to develop the youth’s idea of digital security and citizenship, the entire Be Internet Awesome program focuses on five key lessons which should teach children to share content online with care, exercise critical thinking when judging the veracity of content, be aware of online privacy and secrecy, show kindness over the Internet, and speak about certain issues that cause doubt among themselves.
In order to achieve the program’s goals, Google and its partners developed games, tools, and content that should help parents and educators in teaching kids how to properly behave online. For teachers, Google has developed a classroom curriculum that will show students real-life examples of Internet-related problems and how to correctly deal with them. For example, Google’s curriculum contains lessons on how to identify and properly deal with phishing websites and emails. To further ensure that the Google-developed curriculum is compatible with what is already being used in schools, it has been certified by the International Society for Technology in Education’s Standards for Students, the company said.
Outside the four corners of the classroom, Google has also collaborated with content creators to develop materials that will help parents and children alike to learn more about the Internet. The search company partnered with YouTubers like John Green, the What’s Inside? Family and MinutePhysics to develop a video series titled the #BeInternetAwesome Challenge. The ultimate goal of the video series is to make discussions about online safety fun. To increase the kids’ involvement in learning about online safety, a game named Interland has been developed in order to teach children the basic principles of being a good Internet citizen in a more creative manner. The came tasks kids to combat hackers, phishers, oversharers, and bullies in four different imaginary worlds. Altogether, Google, its partner organizations, parents, and educators alike are meant to use this initiative to work together and teach children on how to make smart decisions online.