Cyber education site for teens and parents

Missouri parents and educators have a new program in their arsenal to protect children from online predators, reports the Missouri News Tribune.

The privately funded program called INOBTR, or "I Know Better," is a website for teens, parents and teachers that provides tips on how to protect kids and their personal information while surfing the net.

"I know from experience we can't arrest our way out of this problem," said Lt. Joe Laramie of the Glendale Police Department in suburban St. Louis.

It's important, Laramie said, that children should be just as cautious with someone they don't know online as they would be with a stranger on the street.

Funding for the site was raised through corporate donations and private contributions. The first-year budget, which includes a publicity campaign, is about $550,000 and was raised privately and through corporate support.

"I think it's an excellent idea," said Gigi Sukin, 17, a Ladue High School student. "A lot of people need to know what they're getting into, there's so many hazards on the Internet. To be well-informed is the best thing."

The INOBTR campaign will work in partnership with Missouri's Project Safe Childhood, part of a Department of Justice effort to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.