Technology and the internet are integral to our daily lives these days, and just like we teach our children to be careful and good citizens in the real world, we need to teach them to do the same in the online world. For adults who are less tech-savvy than their kids, that can be a challenge. National PTA has partnered with LifeLock for several years to provide The Smart Talk to help parents have conversations with their children about technology and online behavior.

This week, Google announce the launch of Be Internet Awesome, a new interactive way for kids to learn how to be smart, positive, and kind online. Developed in collaboration with online safety experts like Family Online Safety Institute, the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, and ConnectSafely, Be Internet Awesome focuses on five key lessons to help kids navigate the online world with confidence:

  • Be Internet Smart: Share with care
  • Be Internet Alert: Don’t fall for fake
  • Be Internet Strong: Secure your secrets
  • Be Internet Kind: It’s cool to be kind
  • Be Internet Brave: When in doubt, talk it out

To engage kids in a fun and interactive way, Google created an online game called Interland. The game is free and web-based, so it can be played in any browser on a computer, tablet, or phone. In the game, kids travel to four lands to battle hackers, phishers, oversharers, and a bullies while practicing the skills they need to be good digital citizens.

Resources for Adults

But the Be Internet Awesome initiative isn’t just for kids. Google worked with the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and educators from across the country to create a classroom curriculum that brings the five principles of the program into the classroom.

There are resources for families as well. To help you talk with your child about online safety, there is the #BeInternetAwesome Challenge, a video series that makes talking about online safety easier for families. In addition, there is the Be Internet Awesome Pledge that families can use to reinforce the importance of being smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online.