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Parent Newsletter - January 2011
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Happy New Year!
A new year means a new beginning, so we're asking every Yoursphere parent to take a pledge to commit 20-30 minutes every weekend towards being more involved in their child's online life. This means becoming familiar with and talking to them about everything from the video games they play, the social networks that they're a part of, and the websites they visit on a daily basis.
Not only is this commitment a good New Year's resolution, but understanding this part of their life can be crucial to keeping them, and you, Internet-safety smart. And because they've already joined Yoursphere--a social network that's committed to the online safety and privacy of your kids--your job is a lot easier!
Here's the scoop on what's been happening in Yoursphere in 2011 so far!
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Yoursphere Member Recognition Program
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 We firmly believe that good behavior, active participation, and creativity should never go unnoticed. That's why we've decided to launch a program for Yoursphere members that does specifically that: recognizes specific milestones or accomplishments that a member earns. With each accomplishment, members earn a badge which they can show off on their profile page. Scrolling over each badge tells everyone exactly why they got it, and how they can earn one too! Here are some examples to give you an idea:  Featured Member - This member has been recognized among all other members as a good role model by engaging in positive interaction and leaving thoughtful comments. 
Yoursphere Writer - This member is a paid contributing writer for Yoursphere. Their article is periodically featured on the Teen Homepage and seen by every member. 
Internet Safety Smart - This member had demonstrated that they know how important it is to be Internet Safety Smart. They know it's not smart to share private information like phone numbers, emails, or addresses--and they've shared this knowledge with other members. 
Video Master - This member has shared or created a relevant, fun, and engaging video for others to enjoy.
You can check out the entire list with your kids, here!
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Yoursphere in the Media
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Last week, Yoursphere contributing writer, Emily, joined Mary Kay on stage at Sacramento & Co's News 10 TV station.
In addition to addressing issues with online privacy, Emily and Mary Kay talked about Yoursphere's unique approach to social networking and how we make safety and privacy of our members a priority.
Being a long-time contributing writer on the site, and a well-spoken young lady, Emily was a pro when it came to talking about all the great things members could do in the site.
 If you read Yoursphere For Parents or follow Mary Kay on any of her networks, then you probably know that she's somewhat of an expert when it comes to Internet safety. Well a few months ago, she was approached by a film crew from StudioPlex Studios that was working on putting together a documentary about cyberbullying called, Submit: the reality of cyberbullying.
Last month, they came by the Yoursphere offices, set up shop, and began filming.
Check out the trailer!
You can watch the full documentary when Safe Communications Inc. releases it this Spring!
Also, don't forget to catch part 3 of the Yoursphere series on Lifetime TV--it airs on January 25th. If you missed the first two parts, you can watch part 1 here, and part 2 here.
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DARE 2B Cybersafe
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For the past 30 years, D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officers have been arming the nation's youth with the knowledge and practical tactics to resist drug and alcohol use. Today's officers are also helping kids handle the multitude of new pressures that come with technology, like online assaults on privacy and cyberbullying.
Keith Dunn, otherwise known as KDCOP, is a longtime former detective and armed services veteran, and a member of the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force who trains law enforcement across the nation. Keith and D.A.R.E. recently teamed up with Yoursphere to launch the  "Dare2BCybersafe" Sphere. This Yoursphere dedicated Sphere gives D.A.R.E. officers and kids a platform to discuss online safety issues and offer tips and resources.
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When it comes to online safety, Dunn's beliefs are right in line with ours. He says kids and young teens should stay away from social networking sites that were created for adult communities and have little regard for the Federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Dunn tells parents that Yoursphere.com gives kids the benefits of the Internet in an environment that respects their privacy and rewards responsible online behavior. "Yoursphere has the highest standards for privacy and is approved by the Privacy Vaults Online Safe Harbor of the Federal Trade Commission."
"We are proud to be working with KDCOP and the D.A.R.E officers who make a difference in the lives of kids and teens every day around the world," said Yoursphere Founder and President Mary Kay Hoal. "The 'Dare 2B Cybersafe' Sphere allows us to expand our member 'Internet safety smart' and good online citizenship education program with the invaluable information from the officers".
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Yoursphere Contest Winners
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Here's a list of the most recent winners, what they won, and why.
"Proud to be an American" Contest - Winner: Leeah
Prize: 2010 White House Christmas Ornament
We asked Yoursphere members to tell us in 250 words or less what makes them proud to be an American. Here's a snippet from Yoursphere  member Leeah's entry:
"I love America because it is the country I came from. I am so proud to be an American. When I remember the lives that have been lost in the fight for our freedom, I think of how lucky I am to live in this country. America is an amazing country and I am proud to live in it."
"ourWorld Condo" Contest - Winner: Purple_Peach
Prize: 600 Gems to spend in ourWorld
Thanks to our members, there are a lot of really cool condos in ourWorld. So many, in fact, that we decided to turn it into a contest. But there could only be one winner, and Purple_Peach came out victorious.
"2011" Contest - Winner: --FinallyGone--
Prize: MP3 Player
 Like we mention at the beginning of this newsletter, a new year can mean a new beginning. When we asked Yoursphere members to tell us what they could do to make a difference in 2011, we got a lot of really inspiring answers.
Here's what the contest winner,--FinallyGone--, submitted to us:
"Since my birthday is in January, being older to me gives me more chances to change stuff, like recycling stuff. I make all sorts of awesome collages from old scraps of stuff. It's fun with recycling! I also want to help out money-wise, so in spring, I'll sell my collages. (: Theres a lot all of us kids can do, and we just have to figure it out. I love helping the earth, and so should everyone."
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Yoursphere Young Writers
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Spoiled - by contributing writer, Elsa
 I never really thought of myself as spoiled. I'm respectful to my parents, I do lots of chores around the house, and I don't ask them to buy me things I don't need. However, there are times where I or my siblings will do something that puts my parents in a bad mood and they'll yell at us, calling us spoiled. When I was younger, I thought this was a really unfair thing to say. After all, being spoiled technically means that you get everything you want and don't have to do any work because your parents do everything for you. So being spoiled is really our parents fault, right? They're the ones that give us what we want and provide us with a nice life, whether you ask for it or not. So my parents can't call me spoiled. It isn't really my fault, is it?
However, as I've gotten older, I've realized that this is wrong. Being spoiled can mean that you get everything you want and your parents have nothing better to do than pamper you day and night, but it can also describe your attitude towards what you have. I realized that this is what my parents are referring to when they call me spoiled - it's not that I demand to be treated like royalty, it's that they don't feel I am grateful for what I have and how hard they work to provide it for me. I take it all for granted, never stopping to think about what they do just for me to be happy. Since I realized this, I've been sure to thank my parents for everything they do, whether it's making me scrambled eggs for breakfast or buying me a new laptop. I also try to make their lives easier as much as I possibly can. If there's something that needs to be done around the house, I try to get it done instead of watching another show on TV.
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Nintendo Wii Parental Controls
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Post Christmas, the Wii maintains its status as the number one gaming console in U.S. households--that means parents should know how to set the parental controls.
The idea of turning on the Wii and setting the parental controls prior to handing it over to your children can be a bit daunting, so we've provided parents with this step-by-step guide showing you how quick and easy the process actually is.
However, just like with any digital device (especially one that's capable of accessing the Internet wirelessly), parents should set everything up beforehand. This will prevent kids from being wary of there being any sort of parental controls on the device to begin with.
Click here to start.
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Stay Connected!
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You can find Mary Kay on:
  
Following her on one of these networks is the best way to get in touch with her and keep up with what's going on in and out of Yoursphere.
Also, be sure to visit YoursphereForParents, where you can find useful tools and information when it comes to leveraging the best Internet experience for you and your children.
As always, thank you for entrusting Yoursphere with your child's online experience and helping us raise the bar for our kids' and teens' online safety.
Best Regards,
The Yoursphere Team.
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