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Disney's Surf Swell Barometer Study Reveals Parents Play a Key Role in Helping Kids Understand the Importance of Internet Safety.


Business/Entertainment Editors & High-Tech/Education Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 2001

Second Annual Surf Swell Island: Adventures in Internet Safety Effort

Continues With Enhanced Features Geared Toward Promoting Online

Privacy for Children

Underscoring the company's commitment to smart surfing education, Disney Online (www.disney.com) released today the results of its second annual research study on new and emerging technology, titled: "The Disney Online Surf Swell Barometer." Results from this research show that when it comes to their children going online, parents are setting rules and monitoring the type of content that their children view.

To gauge current Internet surfing habits and perspectives on current Internet safety issues, Disney Online surveyed nearly 800 parents with children between the ages of 4 and 14, as well as 400 children between the ages of 6 and 14.

This information has been used to enhance Surf Swell Island: Adventures in Internet Safety, a Web site that provides children and parents with essential lessons about online safety and privacy. Beginning today, the newly redesigned Surf Swell Island can be visited by both parents and children at www.surfswellisland.com or www.disney.com/surf.

"By studying the opinions of educational experts, we know that children learn best when a caring adult, whether a parent or teacher, helps them understand the basics of Internet safety," said Ken Goldstein, executive vice president and managing director of Disney Online. "Since parents are always looking for Looking for

In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with.
 teaching aids teaching aids nplmateriales mpl pedagógicos

teaching aids nplsupports mpl pédagogiques

teaching aids teach npl
 about this topic, we have commissioned research to build engaging, effective tools for helping to guide families through the Internet adventure."

A Hands-On Role

The research illustrates that children ages 4-14 are becoming more Internet savvy through their parents' commitment to online education. When asked what action they took when faced with inappropriate solicitations over the Internet, 42 percent of children said they did not answer, 34 percent notified their parents, and 23 percent went offline.

Moreover, 91 percent would not reveal their name, 96 percent would not give out their address and 99 percent would not give out their phone number when asked over the Internet by an unknown source. These impressive numbers, which are higher than last year, recognize that adults have taken steps forward in creating a meaningful dialogue with youngsters about Internet safety.

Not only have these teachers and parents been present to reinforce particular points with children, but also they have enabled our youth to understand the merits of surfing online safely.

A Valued Resource

Further evidence suggests that the presence of well-informed adults has proven to substantially increase the impact of "edutainment Educational material that is also entertaining.

(application) edutainment - Interactive education and entertainment services or software, usually supplied commercially via a cable network or on CD-ROM.
" materials. Eighty percent of children report that a parent has told them what to do if someone they do not know asks personal questions about them online.

The study also showed that 71 percent of parents set rules for the type of content kids can interact with online, and this is in comparison to 48 percent of parents who set rules about the amount of time kids can spend online. Furthermore, 88 percent of parents said that their child does not go online at all from their child's bedroom, while more than half of the parents (55 percent) reported that their child goes online with parents or the entire family.

"Parents need to know what their children are doing online. It is especially important that they know what information their children are sharing online and with whom," said Parry Aftab Parry Aftab is a lawyer specializing in Internet privacy and security law, and is the Executive Director of WiredSafety.org, a volunteer organization dedicated to online safety. Aftab shut down her law practice in 2000 and now only takes a limited number of consulting cases a year. , privacy lawyer and executive director of Cyberangels.org, the largest online safety and educational program in cyberspace Coined by William Gibson in his 1984 novel "Neuromancer," it is a futuristic computer network that people use by plugging their minds into it! The term now refers to the Internet or to the online or digital world in general. See Internet and virtual reality. Contrast with meatspace. . "Parents need help in educating their children about Internet safety.

"Surf Swell Island is that much-needed help. Disney is the only Internet safety Web site that teaches children everything they need to know in a fun and entertaining way. Parents will enjoy the experience as much as their children."

Responding to the research results, Disney Online has enhanced Surf Swell Island's features to include new and valuable "smart-surfing" lessons through entertaining and interactive activities, educational games, and hands-on experiences. It also offers a number of online safety tools to help parents manage their children's online experience.

The redesigned Surf Swell Island: Adventures in Internet Safety offers a world of Disney magic in which Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy Goofy

bumbling, awkward dog; originally named Dippy Dawg. [Comics: “Mickey Mouse” in Horn, 492]

See : Awkwardness
 and Daisy, all outfitted in safari The default Web browser for the Max OS X operating system. It is noted for its fast download speed and many built-in features including the Google search bar and popup blocker. In June 2007, Safari was introduced in beta for Windows users. See Mac OS X.  gear and equipped with backpacks, and PDAs, return to Surf Swell Island for an adventurous ad·ven·tur·ous  
adj.
1. Inclined to undertake new and daring enterprises.

2. Hazardous; risky.



ad·ven
 vacation.

Guests can don their safari outfits as they venture through the following destinations:
-- Privacy Falls -- Guests will recognize the importance of keeping personal
information private. They will also learn the risks involved in giving out
personal information to anyone on the Internet.

-- Virus Cave -- Guests will learn the destructiveness of computer viruses and
how they can protect themselves from these viruses.

-- Temple of Tact -- Guests will learn phrases and emoticons to interact and
communicate with others on the Internet. They will also be reminded of the
appropriate Internet manners.

-- Challenge of Doom -- This portion ties together everything guests have
learned from their adventures on Surf Swell Island.

-- Treasure Palace -- When guests arrive here, it means they have successfully
helped Mickey and his friends in all Surf Swell Island locales. Guests are
given special access to a printable "Certificate of Swellness," as well as a
unique version of Comic Creator, where they can change outfits and facial
expressions of any of their favorite Surf Swell Island characters.

-- Parents' Guide -- This guide will provide parents with information, tips and
tools needed to guide children to a safe, enriching online experience.

-- Teachers' Guide -- The teachers' guide adds an "edutainment" element to
educators' standard teaching curricula and provides children and their teachers
with a fun, interactive environment to learn about Internet safety.


Digital Research

Disney Online commissioned an independent research firm, Digital Research Inc., to conduct two studies on Internet and new technologies, which reveal the attitudes of parents and children toward Internet surfing. The firm surveyed 774 parents with children between the ages of 4 and 14, and 400 children between the ages of 6 and 14.

Disney Online

Disney Online produces Disney.com, the leading kids and family entertainment on the Internet. Disney Online has more than 8 million unique users per month according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 Media Metrix (May 2001), an independent measurement service.

Disney.com features seven exciting neighborhoods that live within the gates of Disney's virtual theme park, housing a variety of wholesome whole·some  
adj. whole·som·er, whole·som·est
1. Conducive to sound health or well-being; salutary: simple, wholesome food; a wholesome climate.

2.
, original content that consistently reflects the magic that has come to be expected of Disney. The neighborhoods are specially designed for each member of the family, including entertainment, shopping, vacations, playhouse and fun for families.

Walt Disney Internet Group The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) oversees several websites owned by The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries. [1] The division's Disney Online unit operates disney.

Walt Disney Internet Group is one of five business units of The Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966)
Disney, Walter Elias Disney
 Company and manages many of the most popular Web sites and services, including Disney.com, the No. 1 Web site for kids and families; ESPN.com, the leading sports site; ABC ABC
 in full American Broadcasting Co.

Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928.
.com, the leading broadcast network site; and ABCNEWS.com, one of the leading news sites.

Additional properties include Family.com, Mr.Showbiz, Movies.com, WaltDisneyAuctions.com, DisneyStore.com, DisneyVacations.com, Soccernet.com and NFL NFL
abbr.
National Football League

NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga
.com. Walt Disney Internet Group also produces Enhanced TV Enhanced TV (ETV) is one example of interactive TV. It is used in particular in reference to Two-Screen Solutions TV + PC services. Generally users of these ETV services have their TV and computer in the same room, and navigate their web browser to a particular program-specific Web  telecasts in conjunction with select ABC Television ABC Television may refer to:
  • American Broadcasting Company, United States
  • Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, Japan
  • Associated British Corporation (1956-1968), United Kingdom
  • Associated Broadcasting Company, Philippines
 and ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network  programming, and includes the catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C.  operations of The Walt Disney Company and 19 Disney-branded international properties.

Steve Wadsworth is the president of Walt Disney Internet Group, which has headquarters in North Hollywood, Calif., and has operations in Bristol, Conn.; Seattle; 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
; Tokyo; and London.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2001, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Date:Jun 25, 2001
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