ALEXANDRIA, VA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/09/14

With new content released today on www.NSTeens.org, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Sprint (NYSE: S) are aiming to create a next generation of digital citizens who know how to help protect themselves online and can navigate the world of Internet ethics. The free Internet safety site, which already tackles topics like cyberbullying and online enticement for tweens (8-12 year olds) with animated videos, web comics and games, now has resources related to online security and digital ethics.

The new content includes:

• Password Plunder, a game that teaches tweens about building strong passwords. Players must save their villages from Viking raiders by gathering enough blocks to build a strong "password" wall. Each block has a letter, number or symbol on it which must be retrieved with a grappling hook in order to build a strong password. The game will be available on NSTeens.org, iTunes and Google Play.

• Choices & Cheaters, an interactive webcomic that engages tweens through a "choose-your-own-adventure" style story. Their decisions help shape the comic's outcome. The comic addresses the topic of digital ethics. Tweens must decide whether or not to engage in digital cheating to get ahead in school. The webcomic will be available on NSTeens.org and can be played on mobile devices.

"I think as adults we sometimes question what we can teach our kids about the Internet and technology because they grew up as digital natives while some of the adults in their lives may be playing catch up," said NCMEC President and CEO, John Ryan. "At the National Center, we believe children need the same guidance in this area that educators and parents provide about how to be smarter and safer offline. There are real risks online to kid's safety, reputations and privacy and with Sprint's help, we want to inspire adults to talk to kids about these risks so they will be empowered to avoid them."

The new game and web comic are also being joined by a new resource that is designed specifically for teachers to build into their lessons about Internet safety. That new piece is:

• NSTeens Challenge, an interactive quiz that tests how much tweens have learned about online safety. Tweens will watch a series of five videos and complete an activity after each to test their knowledge of digital literacy, inappropriate content, online privacy, online predators and cyberbullying. When tweens successfully complete all five activities, they will receive a certificate of completion that they can print and/or email to their teacher. We recommend teachers use this interactive quiz as a wrap-up to their Internet safety lessons. The NSTeens Challenge will be available on NSTeens.org and can be played on mobile devices.

All of the new content, along with previous Internet-safety games and videos, is available for free at www.NSTeens.org. The site also includes activity cards and discussion guides to help educators and parents engage tweens in a dialogue about the issues. 

"Sprint's corporate responsibility program, Sprint Good WorksSM, is guided by the principle that doing the right thing is good business," said Debby Ballard, director - Community Affairs at Sprint. "Part of our good works program includes supporting K-12 initiatives that use innovative technologies, services and devices to enhance educational opportunities. Sprint is a longtime advocate of seeing that families and educators have free and easy access to educational resources to keep kids safer online. So we are excited to continue our support of NSTeens to ensure that these tools remain relevant and available to everyone who needs them."

NCMEC and Sprint launched www.NSTeens.org in 2007. It is part of NCMEC's popular Internet safety resource, NetSmartz Workshop (www.NetSmartz.org). It is funded as part of Sprint's Internet safety initiative, 4NetSafety (www.4NetSafety.com), through Sprint's charitable phone-recycling program, Sprint Project Connect. 4NetSafety is an important part of Sprint Good Works℠, an initiative that encompasses Sprint's community and philanthropic outreach across the country.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with law enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them on issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children. Authorized by Congress to serve as the nation's clearinghouse on these issues, NCMEC operates a hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 199,000 children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting child pornography, child sex trafficking and other forms of child sexual exploitation. Since it was created in 1998, more than 2.7 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been received, and more than 120 million suspected child pornography images have been reviewed. NCMEC works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com. Follow NCMEC on Twitter (@MissingKids) and like NCMEC on Facebook (Facebook.com/MissingKids). 

About Sprint

Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served more than 54 million customers as of June 30, 2014 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved U.S. company in customer satisfaction, across all 43 industries, over the last six years. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America in 2011, 2012 and 2013. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Sprint Good Works(SM)
Sprint is committed to using our technology, human and financial resources to help make the world a better place. This commitment infuses our business and culture, and it drives our Sprint Good WorksSM program. More than just a name, Good works is also a belief: Good does indeed workSM. The good works we perform every day benefit three key subjects: people, product and planet. For people, we demonstrate good works through targeted philanthropic initiatives and a diverse and ethical workforce. For a better product, we harness the power of innovation to help customers minimize their environmental footprint and increase their safety and security, and to empower seniors and those with disabilities to stay connected through accessible technology. For a healthier planet, we lead the industry with our sustainable business practices and wireless reuse and recycling programs. These are just a few of the ways we demonstrate good works to bring people and resources together for a better world. You can learn more about our good works at www.sprint.com/goodworks.

Contact: 

NCMEC
(703) 837-6111
media@ncmec.org

Sprint:
Jennifer Schuler
(913) 315-3324
Jennifer.D.Schuler@sprint.com