A Message From Your State

To the parents in Alaska:

Technology is increasingly essential to our day-to-day lives, and those of our children. Whether we use it for research, news, or social networking, technology provides a world of information and opportunities right at our fingertips.

The tools and resources that the internet and new technologies provide our youth expand their horizons, open new doors, and inspire a thirst for knowledge and information. However, they also create new risks and dangers. Unfortunately, there are predators lurking within the digital world, and it is crucial for our children to be cautious and alert to cyber concerns, and for parents to remain aware and informed of their children's activities online. It is also important to teach our children about the openness and transparency of the internet — pictures or comments posted on websites are public and last forever.

We must ensure that our children are educated on how to remain safe when using technology — especially the internet. iKeepSafe is a helpful organization dedicated to the safety and well-being of families when it comes to the Internet. I encourage you to learn more about the issues by visiting their website at http://www.iKeepSafe.org.

Together, we can work to provide a positive and enjoyable experience for our children when using the internet and other technology tools. Happy web-surfing!

Best regards,

Sandy Parnell