Verizon gears up for Internet safety seminars

Verizon Communications Inc. is sponsoring a series of seminars on Internet safety, and one key seminar topic will be sexting," the practice of sending sexually explicit messages or photos over cell phones.

The first Massachusetts seminar is set to take place June 1 in New Bedford; at Greater New Bedford Technical High School, a day-long seminar will examine such issues as cyber predators, cyber gangs, cyber bullying, and identity theft, as well as sexting, Verizon said in a press release.

The New Bedford summit will be hosted by Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson, Verizon said, and similar seminars, funded by $100,000 in grants from the Verizon Foundation, are also set to take place in Attleboro, Lynn, Lawrence, Leominster, and Mansfield.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)