SmartSocial Teaches Rural Internet Users with Starlink

Imagine experiencing growing up or raising a young family in today’s world without the internet in your back pocket or a limitless social network without leaving your home.

Even in 2021, some families in the United States don’t have reliable internet, and their students haven’t grown up with these conveniences. Our friends at North Carolina State University have been researching and testing various internet technologies to assist families in obtaining reliable home internet service, including Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Starlink and SmartSocial

Getting access to the internet isn’t the only problem for these families with new internet access from their homes. Funded by a state research grant, the Friday Institute at NCSU has made it possible that the new internet access the families in their project receive also comes with the knowledge of how to be safe online and build a positive online footprint, especially for students.

Approximately 200 families in rural North Carolina have access to our SmartSocial VIP (Very Informed Parent) membership to help them learn how to safely navigate the most popular social media apps and websites that students want to be on.

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What is the SmartSocial VIP membership?

Ray Zeisz, senior director at the NCSU Technology Infrastructure Lab running the project, wrote:

While the internet is an invaluable resource, we must continue to teach good digital citizenship and prevent cyberbullying and screen addiction.

SmartSocial VIP members have access to 30+ on-demand and ongoing live training courses that teach parents and students about the dangers of social media, online gaming, and screen time. The courses and resources walk parents and students through important settings in the most popular apps to help keep students safe.  

Most importantly, SmartSocial gives parents and students tips on how to dialogue together about technology and social media. Good dialogue helps families come to agreements on acceptable technology use everyone understands.

Does your school or community need parent and student training?

Any parent, educator, school, or community organization can benefit from SmartSocial VIP membership. We offer individual monthly or annual memberships for parents and educators and packages for schools and community organizations to purchase package membership to provide free access to parents in their community.

Parents and educators: find out more about how to join the SmartSocial VIP membership here

Schools and organizations: contact us to schedule a short call to discuss your community’s needs and how SmartSocial can help educate your parents to help keep students safer online