Norton Online Living Family Survey Finds Parents Are More Concerned About Internet Dangers Than Drugs.

Today’s parents rate Internet dangers higher on their list of concerns than drugs. According to the Norton Online Living Family Survey, conducted in March 2009, 56 percent of parents are concerned their kids may come across Internet dangers, which could include online predators and cyberbullies, versus drug-related threats (44 percent). Traditional parental control products are not enough to protect kids online and address parents’ concerns. That’s why Symantec Corp., makers of Norton security software, announced today the launch of a new family safety service that takes a different approach to protecting kids online. Symantec is offering OnlineFamily.Norton, available at http://onlinefamily.norton.com, for free until Jan. 1, 2010. The service is valued at $60 for a one year subscription.

To help ensure parents have the tools to keep their kids safe online, Symantec is also partnering with PTO Today to educate families about online safety and declare the week of April 27 “Internet Safety Week.”

OnlineFamily.Norton is not like traditional parental control products that focus on just blocking and monitoring kids’ online activities. The service goes a step further to help parents manage the gray areas of the Internet. While parents still need tools in place to help them protect their kids online, education and communication with their kids are now just as important.

The Norton Online Living Family Survey also reveals that parents and kids, even teens, do want to talk to each other more frequently about their day-to-day lives, but they’re not talking to each other. Nearly half of all kids surveyed (47 percent) admit to looking up or reading about “touchy” subjects online, but far fewer (35 percent) have spoken with their parents about these subjects. It’s apparent that a solution is needed that will help foster discussion between parents and kids. Built on a philosophy of dialogue, OnlineFamily.Norton keeps parents in the loop on not only what their kids are doing online, but also what they’re interested in both on and off the Internet.