Portsmouth Student Serves As Hampton Roads Delegate to the Cox Internet Safety Summit
Children’s Advocate John Walsh and Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson Lead a Discussion on How Parents Can More Effectively Influence Safer Behaviors

L-R: Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson, HR Delegate Tanaya McLemore and John Walsh. For more on the Cox Take Charge program, go to cox.com/takecharge

Chesapeake, VA – For the fourth year in a row, Cox Communications, in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) and TV host and children's advocate John Walsh presented original research on the behavior of young people online.  Together, the organizations are working to help parents and guardians understand the potential dangers of the Internet. 

Tanaya McLemore, 14, a rising freshman at Sweethaven Christian Academy in Portsmouth is one of many students nationwide who discussed the findings from the research at the Cox Internet Safety Summit held in Washington, D.C. on July 22nd.  McLemore is a writer for the Virginian Pilot’s 757 section, and has appeared on the Cox Channel 11 program Plugged In. 

This year, the study and discussion extended to the tween population, children between the ages of eight and twelve years old.  Walsh and 2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson lead the tween and teen participants in a discussion focused on ways parents and guardians can help children be safer online. Participating students then delivered the news from the research and Summit directly to Capitol Hill in meetings with members of Congress on July 23rd.

"It’s important to make our children aware of the educational opportunities and the potential dangers on the Internet,” said Gary McCollum, Senior Vice President and Region Manager of Cox Hampton Roads.  “Cox takes Internet safety very seriously, and is committed to educating parents and children about the Internet.  This Cox summit is a great opportunity to learn about the things children are experiencing online, and to share the ways we can help them use the Web safely.”

Here is a snapshot of the research discussed at the Cox Internet Safety Summit:

• Ninety percent of tweens are online by age nine.
• Seventy-three percent of tweens report that Mom and Dad have talked to them “a lot” about Internet safety.
• Ninety-six percent of tweens tell Mom and Dad about at least some of what they do online; seventy-nine percent tell parents everything.
• Of tweens who tell someone when they receive online messages from unknown senders, the vast majority reach out to Mom (ninety-one percent).

“It’s encouraging to see that so many parents are making it a priority to talk to their children about their use of the Internet,” said Walsh.  “However, the research also reveals points of concern for parents and guardians regarding the drop-off in the likelihood of their youngsters to continue the in-depth dialogue as they mature, as well tween communications with anonymous contacts they receive while online. 

For more on the Cox Take Charge program, go to www.cox.com/takecharge