The Mission of INOBTR

In partnership with government and private citizens, INOBTR (“I Know Better”) promotes awareness and educates children, parents and teachers to reduce the chance of children becoming victims of Internet crimes.

The sheer volume of information you can find online is almost beyond comprehension. For example, type the word “sponge” into the Google™ search engine and you will wind up with more than 19,000,000 results. That may seem like a lot, but compare it to the more than 161,000,000 you find when you search “Internet Safety” and you begin to see the enormity of the web. But not everything you find on the net is good.

There are over 50,000 predators online right now doing anything to find their next victim. They might try to decode Internet profiles, strike up conversations in chat rooms, or send messages through file-sharing programs or online gaming sites. Don’t make it easy for them. Talk to your kids, your parents, your friends about Internet safety; encourage one another to share experiences. Protect yourself from online predators.

The information you find here comes from respected sources including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), the FBI and more. These organizations, like INOBTR, are dedicated to educating the public about keeping children safe on the Internet. And, like the Internet itself, INOBTR.org will be constantly updated with the latest Internet safety news, information on INOBTR events, and a growing list of resources.

How INOBTR Got Started

Across the nation, federal prosecutors have seen an alarming rise in the sexual exploitation of children using the Internet. More children are using the Internet than ever before, and the only way to help protect them from dangers online is to spread the word about the risks they face every time they log on.

INOBTR began as Missouri’s public awareness initiative to stop the proliferation of technology-assisted sexual exploitation crimes against children. INOBTR is an abbreviated form of “I Know Better” and was created as a reflection of the Internet lingo used in blogs, emails and text-messages. St. Louis-based business leader and philanthropist Steven Schankman has been the driving force behind the INOBTR campaign, which has been in development since early 2006. Schankman, who made a gift of $100,000 to start the campaign, and the INBOTR team are working closely with state leadership, law enforcement and child services organizations to create a program that promotes Internet safety through communication, education, and collaboration.

The INOBTR campaign also works in direct partnership with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Federal prosecutors are helping to forge stronger partnerships between law enforcement agencies and community organizations, including children’s advocates, victim service providers, educators, non-profits and social service agencies. Click here to learn more about Project Safe Childhood.

Our Affiliates

INOBTR is a 501c3 organization and is currently funded through private sector sponsorship and government grants. These donors and grantors are vital to the success of the INOBTR campaign. Since its inception, INOBTR has been fortunate to work with the following groups, who have provided invaluable insights, experience and resources:

• US Attorney’s Office – Eastern Missouri
• US Attorney’s Office – Western Missouri
• MO Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)
• ikeepsafe.org
• MOREnet
• NetSmartz
• Project Safe Childhood
• WebWiseKids