``Missing'' Computer Game Reaches One Million Children in Fight Against Online Predators; Web Wise Kids Empowers Children to Be Safe Online.SANTA ANA Santa Ana, city, El Salvador Santa Ana (sän'tä ä`nä), city (1993 pop. 129,873), W El Salvador. It is the second largest city in the country and the commercial and processing center for a sugarcane, coffee, and cattle region. , Calif. -- One million children have been aided in the fight against online sexual predators through the use of "Missing," a computer game that equips today's youth to make wise choices on the Internet, Web Wise Kids (WWK WWK Wewak, Papua New Guinea - Boram (Airport Code) WWK Warner Warrior Klan WWK Wordperfect for Windows Keyboard Layout ), the game's distributor, said today. "With over 200,000 predators on the Internet searching for their next victim, it's critically important to reach our children with safety messages that can keep them away from danger," said Judi Westberg Warren, president of Web Wise Kids. The FBI estimates that there are 77 million children online in the U.S. and fully 20% of those have been sexually solicited on the Internet. Since its release in the USA in 2003 the "Missing" game and program have been utilized by over 2000 Community Partners (schools and organizations) in 49 States from New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of to California under the direction of the Web Wise Kids staff. The game, developed by Livewires Design, is based on the true story of a boy who was lured to San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. by a predator. Children play the role of a police detective and must save the missing child. The program includes a video documentary and guide for parents and teachers. "`Missing' is a great example of the way that games can make a real difference in children's lives, in this case by helping them to stay safe on the Internet," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA 1. (architecture) ESA - Enterprise Systems Architecture. 2. (body) ESA - European Space Agency. ), the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers that supports Web Wise Kids through its charitable foundation. "As long-time supporters of Web Wise Kids and the `Missing' program, we are thrilled that this important game has reached over a million kids, and that their lives have been made safer because of it." Formed in 1998 after the founder's sister was the victim of an online predator An online predator is an Internet user who exploits vulnerable people for sexual or financial purposes. Children and the elderly are most often the victims of online predators. , Web Wise Kids is a non-profit organization A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes. that provides today's youth with the tools they need to make wise choices on the Internet. For more information on Web Wise Kids and the "Missing" kit, please visit www.webwisekids.org. |
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