New Campaign Warns Teens Of Online Dangers
Ad Campaign Unveiled On Friday
Updated: 10:10 am CDT March 24, 2007
MADISON, Wis. -- A national and statewide effort is aiming to protect Wisconsin children and teenagers who post pictures of themselves online.
VIDEO: Public Service Announcement 1 | VIDEO: Public Service Announcement 2A new TV ad campaign featuring strong advertising messages kicked off Friday morning. The public service announcements are part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood.Many who have seen the ads call them compelling, and some parents said they found parts of the message a bit haunting.The traditional high school bulletin board is a place where most girls would never tack a suggestive photo. But a public service announcement in the campaign uses this idea to make a point -- teenagers who post pictures online might as well circulate the images to everyone at school because, once online, they are available for all to see."Once you post your image online, you can't take it back. Anyone can see it. Anyone. Remember: Think before you post," a narrator says in the public service announcement.The public service announcements are once facet of a renewed partnership between state and federal authorities, WISC-TV reported. Authorities said they will continue to go after online predators while at the same time attempt to educate."It's a very strong message. The bottom line to children across the country is, 'Think before you post,'" said Erik Peterson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. "It's a lot like Dad used to tell me: 'Stranger comes up on the street, offers you candy or says 'Get in the car,' you need to run the other way.' We need parents to learn about the digital dangers in an online world and educate their children to do that."Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said that the Internet can offer a false sense of security."I don't think it's naivety as much as a false sense of security when someone's in the presumed safety of their own home. You think that your child's on the Internet, how could they possibly have harm befall them?" Van Hollen said.Van Hollen said authorities plan to step up efforts to catch online predators."They don't feel like Big Brother has the ability to watch them or law enforcement has the ability to catch them doing that," he said. "We want to send a very strong message that not only do we have the capability, but we're exercising it and we're going to ramp that up."
VIDEO: Public Service Announcement 1 | VIDEO: Public Service Announcement 2A new TV ad campaign featuring strong advertising messages kicked off Friday morning. The public service announcements are part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood.Many who have seen the ads call them compelling, and some parents said they found parts of the message a bit haunting.The traditional high school bulletin board is a place where most girls would never tack a suggestive photo. But a public service announcement in the campaign uses this idea to make a point -- teenagers who post pictures online might as well circulate the images to everyone at school because, once online, they are available for all to see."Once you post your image online, you can't take it back. Anyone can see it. Anyone. Remember: Think before you post," a narrator says in the public service announcement.The public service announcements are once facet of a renewed partnership between state and federal authorities, WISC-TV reported. Authorities said they will continue to go after online predators while at the same time attempt to educate."It's a very strong message. The bottom line to children across the country is, 'Think before you post,'" said Erik Peterson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. "It's a lot like Dad used to tell me: 'Stranger comes up on the street, offers you candy or says 'Get in the car,' you need to run the other way.' We need parents to learn about the digital dangers in an online world and educate their children to do that."Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said that the Internet can offer a false sense of security."I don't think it's naivety as much as a false sense of security when someone's in the presumed safety of their own home. You think that your child's on the Internet, how could they possibly have harm befall them?" Van Hollen said.Van Hollen said authorities plan to step up efforts to catch online predators."They don't feel like Big Brother has the ability to watch them or law enforcement has the ability to catch them doing that," he said. "We want to send a very strong message that not only do we have the capability, but we're exercising it and we're going to ramp that up." Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
