Getting Involved

Has your child ever bumped into inappropriate content on an app that was supposed to be "for ages 3+"? Ours have! The ratings system is broken. So what are we going to do about it? Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, is one of the key players in a movement working to address this issue. The #FixAppRatings campaign aims to create a better solution that will keep our kids safe. Join us as we talk with Chris and learn how we can help! About Chris McKenna: After a 12-year career in business advising with Ernst & Young, and six years in…

What health crisis affects every family and community across this country? —Sexual exploitation fuelled by inseparable duo of human trafficking and the porn industry! To solve this crisis we need to get more people involved in the the conversation. We need a safe place to share worries, concerns and frustrations. We need to find solution-focused strategies that will protect our kids from becoming victims of sexual exploitation. We need to be united in the fight against pornography. ”Strong & Free” in the cause Being united in this cause is exactly what brought me to Ottawa last week. There I attended the…

Sure, politics is fraught with debate. That comes with the territory. But one thing I can’t abide is when politicians cross the line and defend underage access to pornography. It's not just wrong, it's dangerous and irresponsible. [media-credit id=64697236 align="aligncenter" width="800"][/media-credit] During a recent press conference on sexual abuse awareness, MP Arnold Viersen spoke out about pornography’s influence in shaping sexual attitudes of young people, grooming them to be more accepting of sexual abuse. He was making a direct link between underage access to porn and the #MeToo movement. Read more here. “Immediately others began to push back in defense…

Forget fighting the old, it’s time to build the new. That’s Clay Olsen’s philosophy. And he’s used it to create a movement around the world where millions of young people are standing against porn to #fightforlove. [media-credit name="Photo by Kristina Litvjak on Unsplash" link="https://unsplash.com/photos/FO18LpXMlvk?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" align="aligncenter" width="800"][/media-credit] Recently I had the opportunity to watch Clay in action as he engaged with students in my hometown! My first impression —this is a man with a big heart! My second impression —this is a movement that has an even bigger heart! Listening, you can’t help but believe that love can win! Everything Fight…

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. —Buddha In 9 days I am going to lace on my running shoes, gather up my kids, friends, and neighbors to Race for Virtue. I invite you to join me. Read on as I explain how and why. What is Race for Virtue? I found out about Race for Virtue just a few short weeks ago when…

So many kids stumble upon pornography every day, that sadly we’ve come to expect it as the norm. At Parents Aware we believe kids have the right to enjoy safe online experiences without the risk of exposure to hardcore pornography.  This is why we fully support the petition to adopt meaningful age verification put forward by MP, Arnold Vierson. In this post, you will read about one proactive mom and her approach to helping her kids prepare to reject pornography before they see it.  Her experience illustrates why every family, regardless of how vigilant, will want meaningful age verification to…

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. --Edward Everett Hale What makes a father of two young children want to run 30 marathons with handcuffs on? LOVE. Garrett Jonsson says simply: “I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my community and I love you. I believe that LOVE is worth fighting for. I believe that if I’m not actively fighting against pornography, then I’m aiding its growth.” Breaking the silence Garrett was sick of letting…

As International Women’s Day is celebrated in our communities and throughout social media today, organizers are asking that we consider what we can do to move society towards greater gender parity. A recent report from the World Economic Forum predicts, “the gender gap will not close entirely until 2186”. We think that is too long. Showing your support for International Women’s Day is one way to raise awareness and become a vehicle for change. #EqualityMatters #BeBoldForChange At Parents Aware we can’t think of a better way to champion the cause of women worldwide than to be like our young friend Samuel…

Have you ever wondered if any of the well-established brands or businesses you support, profit from or facilitate sexual exploitation? The National Center On Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) can inform you. Each year they make it a top priority to find out which corporations are the worst offenders. When these entities refuse to adjust their business practices, they find themselves on the Dirty Dozen List. According to NCOSE, the purpose of the Dirty Dozen List is to "name and shame the bad corporate actors in America that perpetuate sexual exploitation —whether that be through pornography, prostitution or sex trafficking."   The…