Every February, countries and organizations around the globe promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones as part of Safer Internet Day.

The RCMP in Nova Scotia is reinforcing this year’s theme, ‘Let’s make the Internet Safer Together’ by continuing to inform people about online and smartphone safety, sexting, healthy relationships, bullying and appropriate boundaries.

‘Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to remind people on a global scale that we all have a role to play when participating in the online community,’ said Cst. Colleen Fequet, of the Nova Scotia RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit. ‘Unfortunately, I see unsafe online activity every day in my job. We all can help create a safer internet by getting involved, being cautious and reporting anything inappropriate. Through education and parenting in this digital world, we can empower our children to be safe while they explore, learn and play online.’

Along with parents, teachers also play a critical role in teens’ lives and in recognition of this, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has recently distributed over one million internet safety materials to schools across Canada free-of-charge. Both parents and teachers alike can access age-specific Internet safety information by visiting The Door That’s Not Locked website www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca .

The RCMP in Nova Scotia also encourages parents and others to sign up for Cybertip.ca Alerts – a new notification system that offers vital information to the public concerning technology trends and new resources designed to increase children’s personal safety. Visit Cybertip.ca to sign-up today.

Source: Release