NortonLifeLock (NASDAQ:NLOK) and American child association, National PTA, announced enhancements to family focused online tool, The Smart Talk.
The enhancements are intended to champion inclusivity and give families access to the resources required to protect and empower children to become responsible digital citizens.
“We’re proud to partner with National PTA to reimagine The Smart Talk and reach even more families with cybersecurity education and training that honors the ways they communicate best. We all know technology is a ubiquitous part of life – especially for kids’ educational and social development, made so apparent with remote learning during the pandemic – and as our children and their use of devices grows, we want to empower parents as they navigate those Cyber Safety discussions with their children at every stage,” said Kim Allman, head of corporate responsibility and government affairs at NortonLifeLock.
NortonLifeLock is a technology company that provides software to promote consumer cyber safety. In contrast, National PTA is an registered nonprofit association comprised of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders working to help children find success in education, as well as being a powerful advocate for public education initiatives.
A survey sponsored by NortonLifeLock conducted by The Harris Pole discovered that 52% of parents of 5-8 year olds and 72% of parents of 9-12 year-olds give their children the greenlight on having their own social media accounts, even though most networks regulate use to those 13 or older. The company recognizes the importance of conversations and open dialogue regarding online safety.
“Norton and PTA share a commitment to empowering families with the tools and education they need to maintain their digital safety. We look forward to helping many more families keep up with technology while staying safe as a result of our new, reimagined ‘The Smart Talk,’ which has been transformed based on extensive research and feedback to be a more inclusive, engaging and helpful resource,” said Anna King, president of National PTA.
Norton and National PTA have been working on The Smart Talk since 2015. It’s a free, interactive resource that helps families set tech limits, and has since been redesigned with updates including:
- Updates based on real feedback from focus groups to help ensure the tool works for families from all different backgrounds, beliefs and abilities.
- Availability of the tool in Spanish, translated by native Spanish speakers.
- Changes to help make the tool more accessible for neurodiverse users.
The relaunched tool also includes content and user experience improvements, including:
- Content addressing newer technology and platforms, such as TikTok and other emerging apps.
- Tailored content so that kids get different and more age-appropriate questions.
- Modules for families to choose specific areas and key topics to focus on.
NortonLifeLock is up $0.355 today and presently trading at $22.18.
