Qwest Offers Spanish-Language Guide to Help Families Stay Safe on the Internet

As a public service through its Motívate.Edúcate.Elévate. program, Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) is now offering a Spanish-language parent guide written by psychologist and online safety expert Linda Young, Ph.D. The handbook, called “Understanding a Child’s Virtual World,” aims to help families understand how communications technology affects daily life and relationships.

The handbook is available at no charge at http://www.incredibleinternet.com/index.php/do/parent_guide/lang/sp and provides a professional perspective to help families stay safer online. The guide is divided into the following five chapters:

* How Technology is Changing Relationships
* Seven Reasons Good Kids Do Bad Things on the Internet
* Communicating With Teens in Ways That Change Behavior, Part One
* Communicating With Teens in Ways That Change Behavior, Part Two
* Always-On Technology: Do You Have Tethered Kids?

Dr. Young is a Seattle University staff psychologist with more than 15 years of counseling experience. In 2007, Qwest commissioned Dr. Young to write the guide “Understanding a Child’s Virtual World,” and has now made this important resource available in Spanish as well as English. Qwest also sponsors appearances by Dr. Young at community events throughout the country to help parents and guardians better understand children’s use of communications technologies.

“The accelerating popularity of social networking sites has created an online environment for interaction among users that mirrors much of what happens in real life,” said Dr. Young. “Online culture is starting to reproduce exactly the same kinds of interactions that we’ve always seen in person.”

Qwest is providing Dr. Young’s handbook as one element of its comprehensive Spanish-language educational program called Motívate.Edúcate.Elévate. The program was launched in September 2007 to highlight information and opportunities made available by Qwest that reflect important multicultural values. The resources are available at www.Qwest.com/motivate and are examples of Qwest’s ongoing commitment to serve the Hispanic community.

“Online safety is an important component of Qwest’s Motívate.Edúcate.Elévate program,” said Hector Placencia director of multicultural marketing at Qwest. “And with the expertise of Dr. Young, Qwest is helping parents establish a deeper understanding of how children and teens see technology differently than adults and promote a safer online experience for broadband customers.”

Since joining the Qwest program, Dr. Young has spoken with hundreds of parents and guardians at community events about how they can stay informed about online safety issues and trends in technology. She also provides parents and guardians with insight and advice on how they can open new and varied lines of communication with children.”*

*From: http://www.businesswire.com

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