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6:13 a.m. • 2-11-12

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Knightdale Grandmother Sets Sights on Cyberspace Safety


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Mary Conyers
Mary Conyers

Mary Conyers came out of retirement with one goal in mind: To keep kids safe online. She got the idea after watching her own granddaughters try to navigate the treacherous virtual waters of cyberspace.

So far, the Knightdale grandmother has started a non-profit called "Protect Every Child,” which has distributed hundreds of free DVDs to help schools and parents educate their kids about being safe online.

The DVD includes the basics — don't talk to strangers and don't share personal information. These rules seem simple, but young computer-users violate them every day.

One girl who won’t violate those rules is Conyers’ 16-year-old granddaughter, Whitney.

“I pretty much keep my stuff private and try not to put out too much information,” Whitney said. “I don't talk to anyone I don't know. All my friends on my buddy list are people I know from school and stuff.”

As Conyers sees it, parents protect their children in many other areas of life, but not enough when it comes to the Internet.

“You wouldn't let your son or daughter leave the driveway until they know all of the rules about driving and make sure they follow them,” she said. “The same thing is true of the Internet.”

Conyers believes the Internet has become a virtual playground for child sex offenders.

“There's no way that law enforcement can ever catch every sex offender or online predator. I think we've got to do that through the kids. They can slam the door and lock it,” she said.

Conyers said she has received 600 requests for the DVD in the past three weeks from 41 states and several other countries. She is trying to raise money to accommodate everyone.

 

RELATED TOPICS: Knightdale

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39 Comments


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i applaud this woman more people need to do things like this...

ron White, I said it and you know what, I don't know you to say a mean comment like that but you don't know too much about teenage girls to make your comments either. Like I said I agree with some of the things you said and I definitely agree with this myspace.com being monitored. Kids use the site to visit with friends and cousins out of state and the perverts are taking advantage of this. My space started off good but like all things some things end.

NappyHeadedHo: I wasn't aware that it was the police that are supposed to educate our children on internet safety. I kind of thought that is what parents are for, I know the police haven't informed me of anything. I applaud Mary for helping to reach out to parents that don't have a clue of what goes on in cyberspace. I watch my children and I try to keep an eye on my friends children, some parents just don't get how dangerous the internet can be and kids think they are invincible and nothing will happen to me until some pervert comes to their door.

To all the people that are focused on ronwhite...that is how the devil gets you. You are focused on him and not the real issue at hand. We are all here for the same reason, and we all state our OPINIONS. Stay focused people. Mary needs our help and mainly the children need our help.

To all the Nay sayers:

I know Mary, and she is a warm wonderful women who has more knowledge of whats going on out there then most. She has the guts to take a stand...DO YOU?? When your kid is found in a ditch somewhere (God forbid), think of Mary, and just maybe you will get it in your thick skulls what is happening to our children.

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