Orlando elementary school students receive lessons in cyber safety

ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 1,800 elementary school students in the Orlando area now have the tools they need to stay safe online.

The Center for Cyber Safety and Education brought free cyber safety lessons to nearly 100 classrooms Wednesday.

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The organization found an estimated 40% of children between fourth and eighth grade have talked to a stranger online.

The “Safe Social Media Posting” lesson was the main focus for organizers.

More than half of those children gave their phone number to someone online.

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Wednesday’s events marked the third straight year of the initiative Cyber Safety Day, which is part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Cyber Safety Day is a one-day event that allows schools and communities to join forces and ensure elementary children receive skills to become a responsible digital citizen.

Officials said 81% of schools participating in Cyber Safety Day Orlando do not have an internet safety program in place.

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Data shows on average a child gets their first smart phone by 10 years old, and 400,000 kids each year are victims of identity theft.

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