LMK Online Safety Campaign
What Is LMK?
LMK (text-speak for “let me know”) is an online safety campaign created in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft Windows. The campaign includes an interactive Web site for girls (lmk.girlscouts.org), as well as an e-newsletter and Web site for adults (letmeknow.girlscouts.org). Each month, an all-girl editorial board explores a different internet safety topic online and then shares what they learned in the e-newsletter which is distributed to adults the following month.
What Can Girls Expect to Find on the Girls' Web Site?
Girls can anticipate learning more about internet safety through a fun and interactive Web site which includes forums, video features, articles, quizzes, polls, games and a Question & Answer column from internet safety expert Parry Aftab.
What About the Adult Components of the Campaign?
The e-newsletter and adult site are designed to provide parents with timely guidance, expert advice, and also serve as a tool to help families have open and honest conversations about the dangers that lurk in cyberspace.
Why Is LMK Important?
With the escalating popularity of, and increasing access to the internet and online technologies, it is important for teens and parents to be aware of the dangers that exist in cyberspace. The LMK campaign not only creates a space for internet safety experts and teen peer advisors to provide guidance about topics like cyberbullying and online sexual predators, but the adult components of the campaign also help teens to bridge the digital generation gap between themselves and their parents.
What Is LMK Teaching My Kid That They Don't Already Know?
While many young people are aware of the issues of cyberbullying and online predators, not many people know how to keep themselves safe. The LMK campaign shows teenagers how to stay safe online by:
- Surprising girls at what they can learn about online safety and moving them to make changes in their online lives;
- Inspiring girls to pass their learning on to their friends;
- Including their parents in a dialogue about online safety;
- Empowering girls to become thought leaders who advocate safe and responsible use of technology.
Why Is The Girl Scouts Partnering With Microsoft?
Girl Scouts is committed to helping today's girls become tomorrow's leaders. Thanks to the support of Microsoft, we are able to create a unique online learning experience for girls which furthers our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Do You Have To Be A Girl Scout (or Parent of a Girl Scout) to Participate?
No. LMK is open to everyone (Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts alike) as well as to any adult who wants to learn about internet safety.What Is The Editorial Board?
The Editorial Board is a team of Girl Scouts from across the country working together to share their experiences and opinions on online safety through the LMK site for girls and through e-newsletters for adults. To learn more about the girls on the Editorial Board, please visit: http://lmk.girlscouts.org/Meet-The-Girls.aspx. Of the 18 girls who have been selected to serve on the editorial board, five of the girls are from Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines. Congratulations to our council’s girls who are serving on the editorial board:
Tiffanie (Brunswick County)
Natalie (Columbus County)
Briana (Cumberland County)
Ada (Durham County)
Laura (Wake County)
How Do I Get My Daughter Involved With LMK?
Send her to http://lmk.girlscouts.org.
Who Is Parry Aftab And How Is She Involved?
Parry Aftab is a security, privacy and cyberspace lawyer, as well as an author and child advocate. Her main focus is teaching good cybercitizenship, especially to young people, including cyberbullying and responsible use of technology. As a spokesperson for the LMK campaign, Parry provides much of the information and advice on the Web sites, and also serves as a mentor to the girls on the editorial board.
Can Girls Earn a Girl Scout Patch If They Participate?
Yes! Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts can earn the first-ever downloadable Girl Scout patch, available to share and download from the Web, just for registering on the Web site. Once registered, the patch will automatically be downloaded to their profile page. It can then be shared across multiple social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace), embedded in social networking profiles, selected as a site user’s avatar for the LMK site itself, and generate email messages to their friends.
Where Can I Find Out More About LMK?
For more information, please visit: lmk.girlscouts.org (the site for girls) and letmeknow.girlscouts.org (the site for parents/adults).