Safety Is #Up2Us - Take Control

OPP amps up social media presence for #SID2015

ORILLIA, ON, Feb. 9, 2015 /CNW/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is stepping up its social media presence to engage more young people and their families to ensure their safety in the online world.

February 10^th is International Safer Internet Day, which was created in 1999 to promote safer and more responsible use of technology, especially among children and young people around the world. The theme for Safer Internet Day 2015 is "Let's create a better Internet together."

OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes (Twitter - @OPPCommHawkes) will launch province-wide conversations on the OPP's social media platforms to offer tips to address the many potential risks and guide responsible uses of the Internet, e-mail, personal wireless and mobile devices.

Following the Commissioner's lead, OPP Community Safety Services, Regional Operations and Provincial Communications Centre members are supporting cyber safety awareness by sharing messages and resources and encouraging followers to be part of the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtags #SID2015, #Up2Us and #OPPtips.

The OPP tips to prevent crime and victimization, include:

• Protecting your various passwords and changing them regularly,
• Not sharing personal information or photos with someone you don't know, and
• Encouraging open communication about Internet and online activities at home.

As part of Safer Internet Day, Corus Entertainment's youth television channel, YTV, is continuing its valued partnership with the OPP and the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. YTV is launching the latest in a series of interactive internet safety games, which in 2014 garnered more than 72-thousand 'plays'. The newest online game at www.YTV.com is "Cyber Saf-e-Drills 7: The Walking Dread", where players can only continue by successfully answering cyber-safety questions. YTV is also reinforcing safety messages on-air through several animated infomercials and live host mentions of the game and other available resources.

Useful links:

http://www.youthconnected.ca
http://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/cnt/bt/index-eng.aspx
http://www.pensezcybersecurite.gc.ca/cnt/bt/index-fra.aspx
www.needhelpnow.ca
https://www.protectchildren.ca/app/en/
http://www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca/

SOURCE Ontario Provincial Police

Insp. Robyn MacEachern, Community Safety Services, Phone: [phone]