Haley Donahue, customer engagement specialist with KREMC, explains how she designed an activity book on digital safety. On the left is the finished product. On the right is her first draft. The little croqueted Splice was made by one of the teens in her church youth group. Photo by Lauren Zeugner.

By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Someone once said those born in Generation X were digital refugees, while those born after were digital pioneers.

Those in their early to mid-50s experienced the start of the digital age, when there might be one laptop computer for an entire grade to use.

For Generation X, they’ve come a long way from the start of email. Now there is a plethora of social media platforms allowing each of us to keep in touch with each other.

But as with all new inventions, social media does come with its own warnings. Not everyone on the web is a nice person. Parents may struggle to stay up to date on what’s new in social media apps so they can keep their kids safe.

To help parents, Kosciusko Connect just released an educational activity book aimed at fostering digital literacy for kids in elementary school, while promoting safe and responsible internet activity.

Haley Donahue, customer engagement specialist at KREMC, designed the activity book. It contains coloring pages, puzzles, and educational activities featuring three charming characters, Splice, Core and Speedy.

“When I did a deep dive, there was a lot (of information),” Donahue said.

She spent about two weeks working on the activity book.

“People have gotten really good at embedding things (into apps) that aren’t OK,” she said.

Andrea Melton, marketing and communications specialist for KREMC, said when she joined the utility, she was surprised at the type of cyber-attacks that were possible, including gaining access to a home’s security system and even using its microphones to speak to whoever was in the home.

“There are ways to prevent that and protect yourself,” Melton said.

For its customers, KREMC has Guardian Protection which protects customers’ networks.

KREMC customers, who are parents or have children, can also download a Kosciusko Connect app which allows provides parental controls.

“The main thing I focused on was being kind on the internet; not being an online bully,” said Donahue, who also focused on online safety as well as providing information on how fiber-optic Internet worked.

Donahue stressed parents don’t necessarily have to be tech savvy, but they do need to keep the lines of communication open with their kids.

Melton suggested parents read the reviews of an app a child may be interested in, before downloading it. KREMC customers can also check a weekly online blog the company publishes for more information.

While she worked on the book, Donahue, who is also a youth group leader for her church, Living Hope, had members of her youth group review and critique the activity book. It was members of the youth group which recommended stressing being kind online.

One thing that surprised Donahue’s youth group was what they learned about digital footprints; essentially what’s on the Internet is there forever.

For her part, Donahue has always wanted to do art as a career, she just wasn’t sure how to do it. Through this project, she’s realized graphic design is where she wants to go.

Future plans include doing a book featuring Splice, Core and Speedy, the three characters in the activity book, and possibly an animated feature.

The activity book is available at KREMC, 370 S. CR 250E, Warsaw.

Kosciusko Connect recently published an activity book for kids on how to be safe on internet. Shown is Haley Donahue, customer engagement specialist, who put the book together. On her shoulder is Splice, one of the characters from the book.
Future plans for the book are to turn it into a more in-depth book and possibly an animated feature. Photo provided by Kosciusko Connect.