Press Release

PLEASANTVILLE, NY, January 12, 2010 – Safer use of mobile devices safer by young people will be the focus of a Mobile Safety Summit this spring involving students, policymakers, educators and the industry. The two-day events will take place on Pace University’s campuses in Pleasantville, New York, and Manhattan. Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems is once again collaborating with the WiredSafety organization and its executive director, Parry Aftab, a leading international cybersafety expert. (The partners held a previous gathering on cyberbullying in 2008.)

“Cyberbullying, sexting, and distracted driving are issues impacting youth,” Aftab said. “Solutions must include youth voices to be effective. This summit will bring the industry, experts, policymakers, educators, and young people together for a common goal – creating safer, well-designed, and innovative mobile offerings for everyone.”

Panels and breakout sessions will encourage participants to frame an action plan for moving forward on the best practices in mobile safety More information is available at seidenberg.pace.edu/cybersafety.

Youth perspectives

The first day, March 16, in Pleasantville, will concentrate on students and educators. The Verizon Foundation is providing a $15,000 grant to help bring information and awareness on mobile safety and cyberbullying to high school and college students, and to spread their concerns to adults who can act on them. The session will help define the issues of mobile safety from students’ perspectives. Findings and ideas from this interactive discussion will be shared on the second day with the key industry participants, policymakers, parents, and school leaders.

The second day, March 17, at the Pace University downtown campus in Manhattan, will be for industry members and policymakers to explore innovation, safety, and best practices. High school and college students will challenge the industry to address ways to make its offerings safer and more responsive to their needs.

Groundbreaking concerns

“WiredSafety and I are excited about partnering again with Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems,” said Aftab. “In these areas the Seidenberg students, administration and professors are among the world’s best. Our last collaboration, the International Cyberbullying Summit in 2008, was the first of its kind. With the growth of mobile devices, technologies and apps, we expect this mobile innovation, safety and best practices event will be just as groundbreaking.”

“We are grateful to the Verizon Foundation for this grant that will let us offer a vital community resource and formulate a best practice model for keeping young people safe,” said Dr. Nancy Hale, professor of Information Technology at Pace University’s Seidenberg School.

About Pace and the Seidenberg School

The Seidenberg School, established in 1983, is the youngest school within Pace University. Its mission is to prepare men and women for professional work, research, and lifelong participation in a new and dynamic information age. The school offers a student-oriented environment; small classes; committed teaching; research with professors; innovative program, projects, and partnerships; and convenient multi-campus locations in New York City and Westchester County as well as online courses and programs. Inherent in the school’s activities and services to students, businesses, and the community is belief that information technologies are tools for the empowerment of people.

About Wired Safety

WiredSafety.org is the world’s oldest digital safety group, providing education, information, and one-to-one help for consumers. Its StopCyberbullying.org website is the most popular cyberbullying prevention website in the world and helps inform young people, parents, community organizations, educators, the industry, policymakers, and law enforcement about the issue affecting more than two thirds of US teens. WiredSafety.org is one of five members of Facebook’s International Safety Advisory Board, is a member of the advisory board for MTV’s cyberharassment initiative, AThinLine.org, and created the Girl Scouts of the USA’s cybersafety program, lmk.girlscouts.org. WiredSafety’s executive director, Parry Aftab, is a digital privacy and security lawyer and author, and the recipient of the latest FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, which will be presented in March 2011.