FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2016
Media Contact: Anne Collier 801.663.6629, anne@icanhelpline.org
ICANHELPLINE.ORG CHOSEN BY THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION FOR ITS 2016 TECH INNOVATION SHOWCASE
The U.S.’s First Internet Helpline for Schools Is Recognized for Using Technology to Support Positive Use of Tech and Media in School
SAN JOSE, CA—iCanHelpline.org, the U.S.’s first Internet helpline dedicated to schools, is being honored by the National School Boards Association as one of the six startups in its 2016 Tech Innovation Showcase. The winners will be showcased at the NSBA’s annual convention in Boston, April 9-11.
The social media helpline, which is now being piloted in four states by national nonprofit organizations Net Family News Inc. and #iCANHELP, helps school administrators and educators address school-related problems that show up in social media – problems such as harassment, cyberbullying and inappropriate content. If an issue violates a service’s Terms of Service, the helpline, through its founder’s longstanding relationships with social media companies, can help the content get removed.
“We’re thrilled to receive this confirmation of our valuable service to schools and look forward to expanding the service nationwide next school year,” said Anne Collier, executive director of The Net Safety Collaborative, a collaboration of Net Family News and #iCANHELP.
“We thank the NSBA for helping us help schools address social media problems with the confidence that comes from understanding social media and having tools like the helpline,” said #iCANHELP co-founder and helpline co-creator Matt Soeth.
For this phase of the helpline pilot – the rest of this school year – school personnel in California, Georgia, Washington State and West Virginia can call TNSC’s iCanhelpline toll-free on school days between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific Time at (855) 997-0409 or email anytime at help@icanhelpline.org. The helpline expects to provide help to schools nationwide next school year. Meanwhile, links to emergency and specialized help services and school social media resources are available 24/7 to everyone visiting icanhelpline.org.
iCanHelpline.org has received support from ASKfm, Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Twitter, Yahoo and the Digital Trust Foundation.
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