TV host John Walsh moderates National Teen Summit

Cox Communications and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children brought teens together to discuss online behavior at the National Teen Summit on Internet Safety this Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

CHESAPEAKE, Va., June 16, 2010 -- Cox Communications, in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), brought teens together from across the country to discuss the behavior of young people online at the National Teen Summit on Internet Safety in Washington, D.C. on June 15.

TV host and children's advocate John Walsh moderated the event and provided insights on how teens can stay safe in a world increasingly reliant on the Internet and wireless devices.

Rasheda Webb, 18, a graduating senior at Denbigh High School in Newport News, was one of a handful of students from across the nation who participated in the conversation about teens' online safety concerns such as cyberbullying, sexting and digital reputation management.

Webb is the 2010 Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula. She earned this distinction through her dedication to mentoring youth, having logged over 130 volunteer hours in one year, and her eagerness to take on new challenges responsibilities. She will be attending Thomas Nelson Community College in the fall to study computer and information systems management.

Cox Senior Vice President and General Manager Gary McCollum said, "In light of recent news stories, it is important now more than ever to talk with youth about what they are doing online and how these behaviors will affect them in the future. Cox is proud to have such a forum for open dialogue in hopes that young people and their parents will be more cognizant about Internet and wireless safety."

Cox marked the Summit's fifth anniversary by streaming the event live over the Internet. 

In addition to the teens and Walsh, internationally-recognized social media expert James Andrews provided insights on teen online behavior. Andrews is a CNN contributor and is a founding partner of Everywhere, a social media marketing and content development firm in Atlanta, GA. 

Following the Summit, the teens met with members of Congress to share original research on teens' online behavior conducted by TRU. Key findings from the survey include:

• More than 80 percent of those surveyed said they believe what they post online could impact their personal reputation.
  
  
• However, 77 percent said they often post information online that is not true just to get people's attention, including 50 percent who said they had posted a fake age online.
  
  
• 32 percent thought that posting personal information could have a negative effect on their future -- up from 25 percent in 2007.
  
  
• Yet, 62 percent never check with a parent before the post a photo online and 67 percent never check with a parent before they post a comment or status update

Full results from the survey are now available at www.cox.com. For more information, contact Felicia Blow at 757-222-8432 or Felicia.blow@cox.com.

SOURCE Cox Communications