FBI Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge
Cyber Safety for Young Americans
In April 2015, the Pew Research Center published a study saying that 92 percent of teens report going online daily—including 24 percent who say they go online “almost constantly.” According to the study, nearly three-fourths of teens have or use a smartphone.
Considering the many dangers that lurk on the Internet—from child predators to cyber bullies, from malicious software to a multitude of scams—it’s imperative that our young people learn the ins and outs of online safety from an early age.
That is precisely why the Bureau launched the FBI Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge in October 2012 with a dedicated new website. FBI-SOS is a free, fun, and informative program that promotes cyber citizenship by educating students in third to eighth grades on the essentials of online security. For teachers, the site provides a ready-made curriculum that meets state and federal Internet safety mandates, complete with online testing and a national competition to encourage learning and participation. A secure online system enables teachers to register their schools, manage their classes, automatically grade their students’ exams, and request the test scores.
The FBI-SOS website features six islands—one for each grade level—with age appropriate games, videos, and other interactive materials in various portals. The site covers such topics as cell phone safety, the protection of personal information, password strength, instant messaging, social networking, and online gaming safety. The videos include real-life stories of kids who have faced cyber bullies and online predators.
The popularity of our SOS online cyber program has grown over the past several school years. The number of students who have completed the training went from 24,475 in 2012-2013, to 75,377 in 2013-2014, to 275,656 in 2014-2015, to 497,248 in 2015-2016. That’s a grand total of 872,756 students.
Countering Violent Extremism
FBI Awareness Program for Teens
Don’t Be a Puppet: Pull Back the Curtain on Violent Extremism
More and more, violent extremists are trying to radicalize and recruit our nation’s youth, especially through the Internet and social media.
It’s the FBI’s primary responsibility—working with its many partners—to protect the nation from attacks by violent extremists. One important way to do that is to keep young people—the future of our country—from embracing violent extremist ideologies in the first place.
This website is designed to help do just that. Built by the FBI in consultation with community leaders and other partners, it uses a series of interactive materials to educate teens on the destructive nature of violent extremism and to encourage them to think critically about its messages and goals.
The site emphasizes that by blindly accepting radical ideologies, teens are essentially becoming the “puppets” of violent extremists who simply want them to carry out their destructive mission—which often includes targeting or killing innocent people.
The FBI encourages community groups, families, and high schools across the United States to use this site as part of their educational efforts. All Americans are asked to join the FBI in exposing the seductive nature of violent extremist propaganda and offering positive alternatives to violence.
FBI Fun and Games Page
Screenshot of the FBI Fun and Games Page
The Kids’ Page is designed for children and their parents to learn more about the FBI through age-appropriate games, tips, stories, and interactives. We also introduce you to our working dogs and show how FBI special agents and analysts investigate cases.
Help Special Agent Bobby Bureau get in disguise for his undercover assignment. He’s depending on you!
You can visit the Fun and Games page at the FBI archives.