Common Sense Media and Verizon Announce Partnership to Promote Digital Citizenship

Digital media education content and parent advice to be made available on the Thinkfinity and Verizon Parental Controls Center platforms; Verizon is first telecommunications partner

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Common Sense Media, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology, and Verizon today announced a partnership that will bring important digital citizenship tools and advice to parents and kids across the United States.

“Technology is a powerful tool to expand educational opportunities”

Parent advice and video tips are now featured in the Verizon Parental Controls Center, and lessons from Common Sense Media’s groundbreaking digital literacy and citizenship curriculum will be available at Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org) in early 2011. Verizon is the first telecommunications company to partner with Common Sense Media, whose distribution portals also include Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, Time Warner Cable, Netflix, Fandango, GreatSchools, Best Buy, and Yahoo!

“Technology is a powerful tool to expand educational opportunities,” said Patrick Gaston, president, Verizon Foundation. “Verizon is proud to partner with Common Sense Media to expand the use of these valuable resources and help children become responsible digital citizens.”

The Verizon Parental Controls Center (parentalcontrolcenter.com) will host weekly Common Sense Media blogs and video tips providing tips and advice on the topics most important to parents in a 24/7 media world – from preventing cyberbullying to helping kids manage their online privacy to deciding when is the right time to get your child a cell phone.

In addition, Verizon Thinkfinity will host 13 lessons and videos from “Digital Citizenship in a Connected Culture,” Common Sense Media’s in-classroom digital literacy and citizenship curriculum for grades 6-8. Verizon Thinkfinity is a free educational website that contains thousands of engaging, educational resources for teachers, parents, and students that make learning fun. Resources include K-12 lesson plans, in-class activities, and educational videos and games. The featured Common Sense Media lesson plans will focus on issues of safety and security, digital citizenship, and research and information literacy. Verizon Thinkfinity is the first third-party platform to host content from the curriculum, which officially launched in August 2010.

“Common Sense Media is thrilled to have Verizon as our first telecommunications partner,” said James Steyer, CEO and founder, Common Sense Media. “Verizon has stepped up to be a leader in taking responsibility for educating their users in safe, smart online behavior. We applaud their dedication to digital citizenship and its importance to raising a generation of responsible and respectful media users.”

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. We exist because our kids are growing up in a culture that profoundly impacts their physical, social, and emotional well-being. We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children. Through our education programs and policy efforts, Common Sense Media empowers parents, educators, and young people to become knowledgeable and responsible digital citizens. For more information, go to: www.commonsense.org.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government, and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information, and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.