Digital You is an online toolkit created by AT&T in collaboration with Common Sense Media to help you with privacy, safety and security online. This presentation was given to the KC Coalition for Digital Inclusion in December 2015.
Hello, I’m Madeline Romious and work with AT&T on their External Affairs including Community & Sustainability efforts including the newly launch Digital You initiative.
As a business- AT&T provides consumers nearly unlimited content wherever and whenever they choose. As a corporate citizen – we want to empower consumers to use communications products in a way that is safe and enhances quality of life.
To merge these goals, AT&T launched Digital You.
Digital You features tools and resources developed in collaboration with some of the top organizations dedicated to helping parents, children, seniors – everyone - use technology and media safely and constructively.
Digital You is comprised of a wealth of information. There are lessons and tip sheets on a variety of topics including internet navigation, Digital citizenship, Privacy and Security, Cyberbullying.
There are also tools for parents, teachers and other adults to use to start important conversations with children and the community. It has also developed training materials to teach new users about their devices, and popular apps and browsers, and how to navigate it all safely – we’ll go into more of this later – I think you’ll see the potential is really exciting.
A key component of Digital You is Privacy and Security. Whether you’re new to the web or a digital native, everyone should know how to protect your information, your device, and know what to do if something goes wrong. The Digital You website offers tools that can better educate consumers about how to protect themselves.
Downloadable tip sheets, a link to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, and links to free downloadable security apps, as well as information on how to enabling security features already loaded on your phone are provided.
Among many of the groups materials have been specifically designed for, Digital You has developed resources for seniors and others who may be new to mobile devices and the internet. Starting with the basic “How do I Use Mobile Devices?” to tips and tricks on how to navigate the Internet, how to recognize scams, keep private info secure, how to back up your data - there’s a wealth of content and instruction ready for just this community.
On the screen are examples of the tip sheets available for download.
Another target population is youth. Today’s youth are handling situations many of us never had to deal with. [inserted story about my first cell phone and its lack of features, talked about early social media platforms like MySpace, etc., and how grateful I am I didn’t have the ability to update my status/post photos 24/7 with a smartphone like kids can today] Digital You materials are designed to help today’s youth wisely navigate their digital life.
In this section, we incorporate It Can Wait, and cover topics like cyberbullying, thinking before you post, protecting your digital footprint, and staying safe online are examples of topics addressed.
Lots of care has been taken to amass content that is relatable to teens – videos with first-person accounts of bullying, interactive activities, self-analysis exercises that ask teens to examine their digital behavior are types of resources you’ll find in this section.
Digital Compass is something I want to give special attention to. Digital Compass is an interactive gaming platform to help middle school kids learn critical skills of digital literacy and citizenship. We want to get them thinking about these important issues at an early age.
Digital Compass is based on award-winning curriculum by Common Sense Education, a Digital You partner, and is designed as an animated choose your own adventure game. Students assume the role of one of eight characters who each face a digital dilemma. The player determines their character’s actions – and the outcomes – by making a series of decisions. The storylines are designed to emulate real challenges and opportunities kids face and gives them the freedom to explore how their digital interactions may impact their real-life relationships and future opportunities. It’s a great tool to open up the conversation around digital citizenship between parents and children and to get kids thinking about the real-world impact of their online choices.
The app is currently free for download on smartphones, tablets and online due to support from AT&T.
Parents and adults have a unique responsibility to help kids use technology safely and materials have been designed with them in mind.
Once again, Digital You starts at the very beginning. Tools have been created that help parents determine whether their child is ready for a cell phone, providing tips for laying ground rules and guidelines on internet safety, and even provides a glossary of the most common apps and acronyms teens are using.
Videos and discussion materials are housed in this section to help start these important conversations.
First bullet is a hyperlink.
Tip sheets highlighting various accessibility features have also been created.
As well as Spanish-language videos and printed materials.
Empowering Communities. This is one of my favorite aspects of Digital You. In addition to the tools and resources we have discussed, Digital You has also prepared materials that groups and organizations can adopt and utilize in their community outreach efforts.
There has been great interest and response in communities across the country to educating seniors about devices and staying safe online. Digital You has prepared training materials that groups can use to host technology training events locally. There are two types of events:
Bring Your Own Device Training Events
A "Bring Your Own Device" training event is where individuals bring their personal mobile devices (of any brand or model) to meet with a coach to get one-on-one training on how to use it. Coaches don’t have to be experts. Reference guides are made available to help individuals with email, Facebook, texting, connecting to the internet and more.
Classroom-Style Tablet Training Event
These are highly adaptable. This presentation is designed so that a presenter and a team of trainers can teach a group the basic functions of smartphones and tablets. Again, these events cover features usually of interest to older adults -- how to surf the web, use Facebook, take photo/videos, use email, download apps and use maps. With this training, AT&T has the ability to provide tablets for instruction.
In both cases, AT&T is willing to partner and help facilitate events.
Additionally, presentations have been developed on other topics too.
Tablets and smartphones privacy and security presentations
Scam and fraud awareness
Cyberbullying
Additionally, presentations have been developed on other topics too.
Tablets and smartphones privacy and security presentations
Scam and fraud awareness
Cyberbullying
There are step by step handbooks on how to host an event and each topic comes with a facilitator’s guide, prepared powerpoint presentation and short videos and a tip sheet for participants.
Again, we are willing to assist any organization interested in hosting one of these type of events.
Digital You was designed to be shared widely and adopted by as many organizations as possible. We would love the opportunity to discuss how your organizations can adopt and implement the aspects of Digital You that best support your missions.
Thank you and I’ll take any questions.