“A new Arab portal has been launched to help Internet users across the region stay safe.

The www.amanak.org portal was launched on the sidelines of the third annual Egyptian cyber peace initiative, which was held in Cairo last week, under the patronage of the Egyptian First Lady Suzanne Mubarak.

Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) Internet safety adviser Nick Truman was present at the meeting, along with other officials from around the region.

As well as offering tips and advice on how to stay safe on the Net, the new website will also showcase what neighbouring countries are doing to protect their young and old from the risks of online threats.

It comes as an independent report into the safety of Internet users in Bahrain, commissioned by the TRA earlier this year, is finalised.

Truman said Egypt had followed Bahrain’s lead in asking its Internet service providers to sign a memorandum of understanding for them to work together on ensuring the protection of young using the Internet.

TRA Information and communication technology director Ahmed Al Doseri said the meeting clearly demonstrated a closer unity between those countries represented on addressing issues relating to the safety of Internet users.” -TradeArabia News Service

Here is a sample of what you’ll see on their site:

Check out the spheres: create, connect and share!         

A sphere is a group where friends with like-minded interests like sports, music, fashion, gaming, academics, performing arts and more, interact. Yoursphere members can join any sphere, and can create their own – about anything they wish, and invite their friends.

Members can get a feel for what’s inside all the spheres by checking out their home pages. Here you can see what’s going on, what’s new, who has joined, what the latest posts are.

Besides the pledge, there are interesting videos and more information on the hazards of cell phone use while driving.  Check it Out.

About FindHow

FindHow’s Mission

To empower people to achieve success at every task, in whatever role and stage of life they are in, by simplifying and speeding access to trusted, reliable How-To content on the Internet.

Our “How-Tos from Names You Trust”^TM Philosophy

Today, consumers can instead find a dizzying variety of instructions for many everyday tasks on the Internet, at a myriad of useful sites. Unfortunately, many site owners create massive amounts of relatively poor-quality How-To content, in the hope that it will be automatically indexed by the major search engines. As a result, consumers must increasingly wade through vast numbers of irrelevant search results and content of questionable quality in order to find How-Tos they can trust to succeed in their objectives.

FindHow, the How-To search engine, brings trust back into the equation by focusing on indexing only high-quality How-To’s, typically from well-known, recognized brand names or individuals. Many of these sources (often companies, government entities, or educational institutions) have other motives for providing information besides pure profits, and most have trusted, off-line brand name reputations to protect – which encourages them to focus on providing trustworthy and high-quality information.

Our “Family, School, and Library-Friendly” Commitment

FindHow’s definition of achieving success does not include being successful at unethical tasks; in fact, one could argue that the “success” of an unethical task is really a moral failure, not a success. During the development of FindHow, extensive research of search logs showed that approximately 12% of searches for How-Tos are for topics that, frankly, would violate the standards of almost every community.

As a result of this analysis, FindHow’s founders decided to commit FindHow to providing a “Family, School, and Library Friendly” site, but with open access to information to a degree that is consistent with this vision. The “Family, School, and Library Friendly” seal is a trademark of FindHow and was created to symbolize and communicate this commitment.

Check out your government’s website too.  Here are just a few we looked up for you:

ILLINOIS

KENTUCKY

KANSAS

CALIFORNIA

NEW YORK

TEXAS

Disney has teamed with Common Sense Media to help kids and tweens safely navigate the internet and other digital platforms and to get parents thinking about how media and technology fit into their family’s life. The initiative includes a PSA and website which feature the characters from Disney’s animated series “Phineas and Ferb” and supports Common Sense Media’s “Rules of the Road” for smart and safe use of digital media. The tips include guarding privacy and protecting one’s identity while online, balancing time spent in cyberspace and thinking before texting or posting material online.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to deliver information to kids about online safety – using their favorite characters as spokespeople. Simultaneously, the tools we’re providing – the PSA and the website – also serve as useful conversation starters for parents.”

The PSA premiered 1/27 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel and Disney XD and will air in daily rotation on both channels. The companion website created by Disney Online, www.disney.com/commonsense, includes the PSA and a guide for parents to teach responsible online behavior. The website invites kids to test their parents’ familiarity with the Rules of the Road and leads to additional information on internet and digital platform safety for both kids and parents.

Gary Marsh, president, Entertainment and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said: “We have a tremendous opportunity to deliver information to kids about online safety – using their favorite characters as spokespeople. Simultaneously, the tools we’re providing – the PSA and the website – also serve as useful conversation starters for parents.” He continued, “Beyond these immediate tools, we’re committed to encouraging the writers of our series and movies to include the subject matter in their scripts, and to support the Rules of the Road messaging through positive role modeling in our programs.”

Created and executive-produced by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the series is a production of Disney Television Animation. The voice cast include: Vincent Martella, Thomas Sangster, Ashley Tisdale, Mitchel Musso, Caroline Rhea, Richard O’Brien, Dee Bradley Baker and Alyson Stoner.

 reprinted from Radio Business Report.com

Check out the Site 

Try out this new site – good learning activities for younger children. Professor Garfield offers the lesson and then lets the children apply the lessons to situations. Great activity to do with your kids which could prompt conversation. This site is new and promises more to come. Check it Out!