Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, blogs about the launch of “A Platform for Good,” a unique interactive website designed to help change the national dialogue about kids and technology, and to promote conversations between teens, their parents and teachers about using the power of the Internet and social media for good.

The introduction of ESRB ratings to the Verizon Apps store is the fruit of a broad industry coalition and represents the latest in a long line of innovations that help families manage the content they get online.

Now that Internet Safety Month is past, I wanted to share a list of 75 fun family activities that encourages the innovative use of technology, enhances summer learning and helps families connect. We've also collected our Internet Safety links and resources for your use. Feel free to share these with your friends and family.

Our guest blogger today is Jack McArtney.  Jack manages issues surrounding online safety for Verizon.  He also has played a key role in the introduction of Verizon Safeguards and numerous parental control products and services for Verizon customers.

Today’s message focuses on a survey that was released last week by the Family Online Safety Institute, or FOSI.  It had some pretty encouraging findings.

Today, I'm cross-posting a guest blog from Jack McArtney that originally appeared on the Verizon At Home blog. It has terrific information about online safety that I didn't want anyone to miss.

Jack manages online safety issues for Verizon. He  has played a key role in the introduction of Verizon Safeguards and numerous parental control products and services for Verizon customers. He oversees consumer policies and industry guidelines for wireless and online safety as well as content and advertising standards.

Our guest blogger, once again, is Jack McArtney.  Jack manages issues surrounding online safety for Verizon.  He has played a key role in the introduction of Verizon Safeguards and numerous parental control products and services for Verizon Wireless customers.

Today’s message focuses on summer vacation and how to help kids stay responsible online.

This week the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) held its annual conference in Washington, DC.  It was an international event attended by policymakers, Internet Industry leaders, educators, legislators, law enforcement, Internet safety advocates, teachers, and technologists.

We congratulate Stephen Balkam and FOSI for, once again, hosting a successful, thought-provoking conference.

The theme of the event was Internet Freedom, Safety & Citizenship, A Global Call to Action.

Tami Erwin, Area President for Verizon Wireless, presented one of the two opening keynote addresses, and in it she explained what steps Verizon is taking to answer this global call to action.