Technology + Online + Industry + Partnerships

• 05/01/09

Sending the Right Message

An online game uses real-life scenarios to teach teens the ins and outs of safe, responsible cell phone use.

EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF KIDS under age 17 in the US have cell phones, according to statistics from Web Wise Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids stay safe online. But while those kids are using cell phones to gather information on the go and stay connected with family and friends, they're also using the devices for irresponsible and potentially dangerous activities.

According to Web Wise Kids, 53 percent of teens admit to sending hurtful messages over the internet or cell phones, and 51 percent of teens ages 16 and 17 use their cell phones while driving. The organization's statistics also indicate a large number of teen cell phone users participating in what's known as "sexting," with 20 percent of them revealing they have sent nude or seminude pictures of themselves to others, and 40 percent copping to sending sexually explicit messages.

Those alarming numbers led Web Wise Kids to partner with the philanthropic division of the Entertainment Software Association, called the ESA Foundation, virtual technology provider Will Interactive, and communications company Verizon to create It's Your Call, a new web-based game that's part of an onlinesafety education program aimed at giving middle school students the tools to make appropriate decisions about cell phone use.

It's Your Call is based on true stories, and allows teens to practice playing out difficult reallife scenarios in a safe, virtual environment. The game turns students into live-action characters in interactive movies, during which they are asked to make decisions involving cell phone use and view the consequences of their actions.

Throughout the game, students receive guidance on proper cell phone behavior and advice on how to use the devices to enhance personal safety. Among the issues players confront are academic cheating, sexting, and cyberbullying. Web Wise Kids also offers tips to educators on ways to use It's Your Call to enhance school curriculum, as well as providing cell phone safety tips for parents and teens, and teacher resources.

It's Your Call was launched on March 23, when Los Angeles Unified School District introduced it to Sepulveda Middle School in North Hills, CA, to promote responsible cell phone use. "As we all increasingly rely on mobile technology in our lives, it is critical that young people understand how to use cell phones to interact responsibly with others, whether that is with their peers or adults," said Mónica García, LAUSD board president, in a statement. "I applaud Web Wise Kids, Will Interactive, Verizon, and the ESA Foundation for taking this step to educate young people on how to safely utilize the many benefits of mobile communications."

It's Your Call is available through the Web Wise Kids and Will Interactive websites for a small fee, and through Web Wise Kid's training programs offered via schools, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations.

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