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Online safety billboards expand across the state of Texas

The McCain Institute is proud to wrap up a four-stop unveiling of its R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t billboard campaign across the state of Texas. These billboards are central to the McCain Institute’s R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t online safety campaign and are expected to reach over 100 million Texans by the end of this year.           

About the project

The four-day tour featured events and billboard unveilings in Laredo, Lubbock, Grand Prairie and Humble County, TX. Speakers at each stop included representatives from local law enforcement agencies, members of Governor Abbott’s Child Sex Trafficking Team, representatives from the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas, as well as local community leaders and stakeholders.

“We know that not all parents may see our messages on social media or on our website. Billboards – like those you see across the state of Texas – are going to help get the R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t message in front of millions of additional people,” said Kelsey Syms, McCain Institute Combatting Human Trafficking Program Manager. “By incorporating a holistic outreach approach, we can begin to better prevent and respond to cases of online exploitation and enticement.” 

“I don’t think parents realize what is out there on social media and what children actually have access to.” Says Lieutenant Leath McClure with the Lubbock Police Department. “I would encourage them to pay attention, check what they are doing, see what they are on, what they are looking at, check their history, be involved.” 

The R.E.A.L Friends Don’t campaign arms parents and caregivers with simple, actionable tools to help kids navigate their online experiences and protect them from potentially harmful relationships or grooming. Through a partnership with the Office of Governor, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas, and the McCain Institute, R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t has launched print and digital billboards across the state to educate Texans about online safety and ensure parents and caregivers have the resources they need to start the conversation with their children about staying safe online, as well as where to turn if something does go wrong. The billboards, with messages in both Spanish and English, will be broadcast throughout Texas now through the end of the year. 

For more coverage, see KCBD’s report.

About the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University

Inspired by the character-driven leadership of Sen. John S. McCain and his family’s legacy of public service, the McCain Institute fights to advance freedom, prosperity, security and human dignity for all Americans and the world. 

About Arizona State University

Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

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R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t unveils billboards in San Antonio

The McCain Institute unveiled new billboards as part of an expansion of the nationwide online child safety campaign, R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t. The out-of-home advertising portion of the campaign is expected to reach 180+ million Texans in over 70 cities across the state, raising awareness about online safety and child exploitation 

About the project

The R.E.A.L Friends Don’t campaign increases awareness and equips parents and caregivers with the tools and resources to help kids navigate their online experiences and protect them from potentially harmful relationship or grooming. Recognizing the disproportionate impact that exploitation and trafficking has on racial minorities, the McCain Institute has taken extra steps to ensure the campaign reaches those most at risk. “A one size fits all approach does not work for this type of issue, and we are committed to ensuring that all parents and caregivers—not only those with the ability to engage with our content online—have access to this important safety information,” said Kristen Abrams, senior director of the McCain Institute’s Combatting Human Trafficking program. 

Through a partnership with the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas and the Office of the Governor, R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t launched print and digital billboards across the state to educate Texans about online safety and ensure parents and caregivers have the resources they need to start the conversation with their children about staying safe online, as well as where to turn if something does go wrong. The billboards, with messages in both Spanish and English, will be broadcast throughout Texas through the end of the year. 

About the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University

Inspired by the character-driven leadership of Sen. John S. McCain and his family’s legacy of public service, the McCain Institute fights to advance freedom, prosperity, security and human dignity for all Americans and the world. 

About Arizona State University

Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

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McCain Institute launches online safety campaign

The McCain Institute for International Leadership is proud to reaffirm its commitment to combatting human trafficking and exploitation by launching R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t, a national media campaign to increase awareness and educate parents and caregivers about online safety. 

About the project

One of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the sharp increase in the number of hours that school-age children spend online. Whether it’s schooling, connecting with friends, gaming or using social media, so much of our children’s world has shifted to a virtual environment. This creates new challenges for parents; namely, how to keep school-age children safe online and away from potentially dangerous content or connecting with individuals looking to exploit a young person. 

R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t aims to address these challenges by providing parents and caregivers with the tools and resources they need to start the conversation with their children about staying safe online, as well as where to turn if something does go wrong. 

“Parents and caregivers must understand the social media and gaming platforms that their children are using so that they are able to help set appropriate safety measures and have a meaningful conversation about online safety,” said Kristen Abrams, senior director of the McCain Institute’s Combatting Human Trafficking program. “The McCain Institute has approached this campaign in an action-oriented way, arming parents with simple steps to take to help keep kids away from those attempting to manipulate or exploit them.”

With new stay-at-home orders rolling out across the country and online learning continuing into the winter and spring, it is expected the vulnerabilities faced by many will be exacerbated. Because racial minorities are more likely to be victims of sex and/or labor trafficking, R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t is focusing its resources on reaching African American and Latinx families. 

To learn more about the campaign, please visit: www.realfriendsdont.org or follow us on social media @realfriendsdont 

About the Combatting Human Trafficking Program

Through innovative programs, collaborative partnerships and policy advocacy, the McCain Institute’s Combatting Human Trafficking program drives systemic change and implements comprehensive, action-based solutions to prevent and end all forms of modern slavery in the U.S. and around the world. 

About the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University

Inspired by the character-driven leadership of Senator John McCain and his family’s legacy of public service, the McCain Institute implements programs and initiatives to make a difference in people’s lives across a range of critical areas: leadership development, human rights, rule of law, national security, counterterrorism and combatting human trafficking.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Institute is proudly part of ASU, the largest public university in America– ranked #1 in innovation for six years running.