A diverse coalition of technology companies, child advocacy and parents’ groups, educators, and health researchers – joined by U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) – today announced a comprehensive set of recommendations that companies in the Internet industry can adopt as best practices to help keep children safe and smart when online.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL):
"I applaud the release of this vital report, which makes clear the strong need for Internet safety education. Knowledge must be our children's first line of defense. From online predators and bullies to teens 'sexting' photos of themselves, we have an obligation to make sure our children, their teachers, and parents, are aware of these dangers and have the information they need to protect themselves and make smart choices online."

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL):
“I have three sons and I introduced the Dot Kids legislation with the belief that parents could let younger children play games and surf the Internet without worrying about indecent material or predators on social networking sites. I believe the key to protecting children online is education, and so I appreciate all the work the participants of the PointSmart.ClickSafe. report have done to help us help parents understand the possible dangers and to teach them how to take action to prevent abuse.”

Statements from other Members of Congress

Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL):
“The Internet has transformed our society and our economy. I’m always encouraged to see how readily our children take to the Internet, as it will be a vital tool for them when they grow up. But the Internet is not a toy, and holds real dangers for children. I commend this task force for bringing together a broad coalition to promote best practices for protecting our families.”

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA):
“Too many parents are unaware of the serious dangers that may be only a mouse-click away from harming their children online. The report released today (‘PointSmart.ClickSafe.: Task Force Recommendations for Best Practices for Online Safety and Literacy’) will help empower families with valuable information to keep them safe when they use the Internet. I applaud the NCTA and all involved in this informative report for their leadership in protecting children and raising awareness about this important issue.”

Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC):
“Internet safety is a serious concern everywhere and unfortunately children are just as vulnerable on the Internet in their home as they are alone outside their home. Efforts such as “PointSmart.ClickSafe.” help lawmakers, both federal and state, implement laws that protect our children and ensure that stakeholders continue to work together to promote public safety. Parents can also benefit from the summit’s recommendations. Everyone involved should be congratulated on their efforts to improve child safety on the Internet.”

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ):
“While the potential benefits are limitless, there are dangers associated with children using the internet in an uninformed manner. The way to meet these challenges and opportunities isn't to deny our children access to this great resource, but to make sure they know how to use it wisely. Just as we teach our children not to talk to strangers, not to bully kids on the playground, and not to give out their personal information, we have the same responsibility to teach them to apply these values online.”

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Co-Chair and Founder of the Victims’ Rights Caucus:
“Today’s announcement of the PointSmart.ClickSafe. report and its best practice recommendations demonstrates the importance of protecting children from inappropriate content on the Internet, an important priority of mine. The PointSmart.ClickSafe. diverse and never before gathered combination of educators, parents groups, health researchers and technology companies makes it clear that the commitment to children’s online safety and digital literacy must be embraced by all to be successful.”

Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND):
“Protecting children from inappropriate content on the Internet has long been one of my top priorities in Congress. The PointSmart.ClickSafe. report and best practice recommendations provide parents, educators and lawmakers with powerful tools to help ensure that the Internet remains a safe and rewarding resource for our children.”

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR):
“The Internet is an extraordinary educational tool for children, but it also poses very real dangers. PointSmart.ClickSafe. is a wonderful resource that helps parents maximize the Internet’s educational opportunities for their kids while minimizing its risk. As a father of two teenagers I know how important – and challenging – this task is, and we must do everything in our power to help families keep their children safe.”

Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee:
“As a parent of a tech savvy child, I know first hand the importance of ensuring that our children are safe when using the Internet. This is a very high priority for me in Congress, and I am very pleased with today’s announcement of the PointSmart.ClickSafe. report that provides best practice recommendations to keep children safer online. I want to commend the unprecedented collaboration between technology groups, child advocacy and parents’ groups, educators and health researchers who devoted their time, and thank them all for helping us make the Internet a safer place for children.”

Rep. Zack Space (D-OH):
“As a member of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, I have been working hard to increase broadband access to rural America. In moving toward this goal, we must ensure that we are also improving online safety measures and education efforts for our children and families.”

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Co-Chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus:
“While we have made significant accomplishments in recent years to protect children online, much remains to be done to make the Internet safe. The recommendations provided in this report provide a valuable framework that companies not only can but should implement to keep children safe. The anonymity of the Internet has brought out the worst in a small but growing number of people and placed our children at risk. The Internet is a valuable learning tool for children, but we must make the same commitment to ensuring its safety as we do to the safety of our classrooms. The coordination of the private and public sectors, as well as the commitment of individual citizens and parents in particular, will be necessary to accomplish this important goal.”

Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI):
“As the Internet has grown into a social networking haven where our kids spend hours virtually hanging out and meeting their friends, it is imperative that our efforts to keep kids safe online evolve as well. As a father of two, I applaud this outstanding collaboration to aggressively inform our kids on the potential perils on the Internet. PointSmart.ClickSafe. takes the necessary steps to increase awareness and safety for our kids - teaching children smart techniques to keep them safe in a world where trouble is often lurking one click away.”

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT):
“As this report makes clear, today’s ever-evolving digital environment requires us to get serious about protecting our children online. These best practice recommendations, developed by a coalition of public and private sector interests, are a useful resource for those who are committed to ensuring young people enjoy the Internet safely, appropriately and responsibly.”