Denver-based SafetyWeb announces $8 million in funding

SafetyWeb, an Internet safety, identity and reputation protection service for parents, has completed an $8 million round of funding led by Battery Ventures with participation from First Round Capital.

DENVER, June 17, 2010 -- SafetyWeb (www.safetyweb.com), an Internet safety, identity and reputation protection service for parents, announced today that it has completed an $8 million round of funding led by Battery Ventures with participation from First Round Capital.

Launched in May 2010, SafetyWeb is the first subscription-based service of its kind that enables parents to monitor their children's online social networking activity (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Bebo, etc.) in real-time. SafetyWeb identifies positive and negative activity and alerts parents to any action, communication or relationship that could be harmful to the child (e.g., cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, a "friend" has been convicted of statutory rape, etc.). Since launch, over 1,000 affiliates are distributing SafetyWeb.

The service protects the person instead of the device or hardware, empowering parents to intervene if they suspect their kids' online safety or reputation is at risk, regardless of how they access the Internet or where they go on the web. SafetyWeb is also available as an iPhone application so parents on the go can continue to access the information they need to protect their children.

SafetyWeb's initial focus has been on activity taking place on social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Bebo, etc. The service is evolving to incorporate data from cell phones, gaming consoles, criminal background checks and geo-location services, providing parents with a comprehensive dashboard that helps pinpoint concerning behavior. SafetyWeb will use this most recent financing to expand its national footprint through marketing, partnerships, and outreach.

"With the increase in cyber bullying and Internet addiction, plus the growing impact of online reputation on employment and college admissions, it's more important than ever for parents to get a handle on how their children's online activity can have offline repercussionss," said Geoffrey Arone, co-founder and co-CEO of SafetyWeb.com.

Today, the average child aged eight to 18 is spending more than 7.5 hours a day using a smart phone, computer, or other electronic device. SafetyWeb provides detailed reports on a weekly basis and 24-hour access to website services for $10/month for the first child.

SOURCE SafetyWeb, Inc.