Youths Urged to Share their Online Story to Increase Awareness of Internet Safety

Trend Micro today announced its 2015 “What’s Your Story?” video and poster competition during the celebration of Safer Internet Day.

Now in its fourth year this video and poster competition encourages youth and schools to share their personal experiences addressing the question: “What have you learned that could help someone going online for the first time?”

All video and poster submissions will be judged on their ability to inspire, as well as how effectively entrants have promoted their entries via social media.

“Giving young people a voice to express themselves on Internet safety is at the heart of the ‘what’s your story’ competition”, says Avril Ronan, Global Program Manager for Internet Safety at Trend Micro EMEA.

“The competition is a unique opportunity for young people to tell us how they can make the Internet a better place for themselves and everyone else. ‘What’s Your Story?’ celebrates the savviness and creativity of the digital generation and encourages them to start and sustain a positive, online dialogue with their peers and with the world”.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing this year’s entries from schools and individuals all over Ireland, and the incentive of cash prizes is there to reward the winning entries,” added Avril Ronan.

To also mark Safer Internet Day in Ireland, Trend Micro is also hosting their Be-smart Internet Safety Academy at their EMEA headquarters in Bishopstown, Cork. More than 3,000 secondary school students will be educated in the safe, responsible and successful use of technology.

Trend Micro are also hosting several training evenings for parents of young people.  “Encouraging parents to grow up with their kids online is of vital importance. Parents need to talk openly with their children about the internet, and the positive as well as potential issues relating to digital privacy.  Our training programmes help parents to feel more informed so that they can begin to take those first steps at home discussing the digital world with their children,” said Avril Ronan, Trend Micro.

‘Whats Your Story’ finalists will be reviewed by a panel of experts in the fields of Internet safety, media literacy, and technology. In addition to Trend Micro, this year’s judging panel includes representatives from Smart Futures, Twitter, Yahoo! Safely, Facebook, Discover Science Festival and Dr Brian O’Neill (EU Kids Online).  Winners will be announced on 19 May 2015

To learn more about the competition details, submit a video, or see past winners, visit http://whatsyourstory.trendmicro.ie  and follow #WhatsYourStory2015