For Parents: b-linked Safety and Security

At a time when IM, iPods and places called myspace and Facebook have lots of parents saying, "huh?" the world's leading pluralistic Jewish teen movemens, BBYO, adds something else to the modern mix of gadgets and websites -- b-linked.org. Rest assured, b-linked.org requires no user's manual, makes no disturbing noises and has no monthly service charge. It is simply an online community for your teen to connect to other teens with similar interests while giving them resources and experiences that will enrich their lives.

BBYO's long history of working with teens allows us to offer an experience to which today's teens can relate. Teens today are busier. Whether it's student council or soccer, band practice or college prep courses -- not to mention the rigors of high school academics -- teens today have more things vying for their time. We also realize that teens, while curious about their heritage and spirituality, are not necessarily looking for a "religious" experience at this point in their lives. So, we understand, to really connect with Jewish teens, we're going to have to provide a Jewish experience that taps in to their core areas of interest in a "user-friendly" environment.

Speaking of teens' interests, they're changing too. How do we know? We asked them. They told us that they're interested in building online social communities; they're under major pressure to get into a good college; they want to do community service projects; and they want cool travel experiences -- just to name a few.

Teens today are also more connected. Whether it's via cell phone or text message, IM or e-mail, teens today seem to be "on call" 24/7, and the truth is, most of them like it. So, we decided, to really connect with Jewish teens, we're going to have to take the Jewish experience to meet them where they are -- online.

And so, we created b-linked! It's a place on the web created exclusively for Jewish teens -- a place where your child can: • Make friends with Jewish teens from all over the world • Sign up for Jewish experiences, from leadership programs and community service events to basketball leagues, college tours and Israel trips • Communicate through message boards about important topics • Connect with teens based on common areas of interest, from music and movies to volunteer work and sports • Use b-accepted, a college preparation site complete with a unique college search engine, application organizer, and articles that offer advice about anything and everything teens should know when applying to college

And, the best part is, controls have been put in place to ensure that b-linked.org is a secure environment -- a place where Jewish teens can feel comfortable on the web, so you can feel comfortable. While nothing on the Internet is foolproof, the registration process was thoughtfully designed to ensure that Jewish teens make up the b-linked community. Naturally, there will be online content controls as well as BBYO professionals monitoring the site.

What's also great about b-linked is it's a free service. Because BBYO is committed to reaching Jewish teens in unprecedented numbers and involving them in meaningful Jewish experiences, b-linked is being made available to all Jewish teens around the world at no cost to them, or you.

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please Contact Us.

Thank you,

The b-linked.org Team