Several of us from Verizon participated in Parry Aftab’s StopCyberbullying conference this week at Pace University.  Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg delivered the keynote. 

 

Ivan sketched out the great opportunities open to kids and communities in the Internet age, but addressed quite directly the need for joint action to curb those who use online communities and mobile tools for cruel and hateful behavior against others.  

 

These are huge challenges, of course, but we believe technology can help a lot.  In fact, Ivan announced to the participants that our Internet  service--Verizon Online--will soon be offering its parental controls service free-of-charge to consumer broadband customers. 

 

But if one thing was clear from the conference, it's that while technology can be a big part of the solution to ending cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking and other privacy and security concerns, it is but one part of the solution.  We need the various parts of the online community involved--parents, teachers and law enforcement, and, perhaps especially, young people who use many of these technologies more than anybody else.  There is a great need to expand the dialogue so we're not only educating and empowering, but advancing an online culture of trust, respect and accountability.  That, it seems to us, is the best path to a safe and secure digital space.

 

I recommend you take a look at the webcast for some really fine thinking from both kids and adults about how to set norms for responsible online behavior.