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BBC & Google joining Internet Matters to help keep kids safe online
Two of the most well-known organisations today joined forces to tackle the growing issue of keeping children safe online, announcing new partnerships with independent not-for-profit organisation Internet Matters.
The BBC and Google have become the first official partners of Internet Matters - joining the e-safety group’s founding members, BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.
Each will provide support and resources for Internet Matters as it strives to make families in the UK the most knowledgeable and engaged in the world on children’s online safety.
Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children’s, said: “We’re delighted to join forces with Internet Matters. Keeping our young audience safe online has long been a priority for the BBC and we have an important role to play in helping to make sure messages about staying safe online hit home. Today, kids spend more time online than ever before, so equipping them for the digital world has never been more important.”
Eileen Naughton, MD Google UK and Ireland, said: “Google believes deeply in technology’s ability to unlock creativity, and we work hard to ensure that parents and children have the tools and knowledge they need to make smart and responsible choices online. We’re excited to be joining Internet Matters, and will continue to work with organisations across the child safety community to ensure that more families are able to safely open up the creativity, learning and fun the Internet has to offer.”
Baroness Shields, UK Minister for Internet Safety and Security, said: “Since Internet Matters launched almost two years ago, it has provided a vital service for parents, as well as supporting other charities who are working to make the internet a safer place.
"It is when industry, government and everyone who plays a role in bringing up our children work together that the greatest progress can be made. Partnerships like that between Internet Matters, the BBC and Google ensure that young people can leverage all the Internet has to offer to learn, grow and achieve their potential.”
Carolyn Bunting, General Manager of Internet Matters, said: “The new partnerships will go a long way to help the Internet Matters’ goal to make parents and children in the UK the most knowledgeable and engaged in the world in how to use the internet safely.
“The success of Internet Matters over the last two years has proved there’s a real demand from parents who want to know more about how to keep their children safe online, from setting parental controls and safety filters, to what it means when your 11 year old child has 900 followers on Instagram. There is not a day that goes by where the subject of internet safety is not in the news.
“We are here for all parents who are affected by the pace of change in the digital world, but who would like to know more, talk more and do more to protect their children. We’re delighted to have the BBC and Google on board. With their immense combined energy and enthusiasm in this area, we hope the issue of internet safety will become even more a part of the DNA of society.”
Both the BBC and Google have existing programmes that address internet safety for families, but their support of Internet Matters recognises that working collectively across industry strengthens the ambition to ensure children are as safe as they can be when they are enjoying the internet.