Online Seminar on Safe and Secure Use of Internet and Smartphone: Teaching safe and effective internet use to junior and senior high school students in children’s homes to help them prepare for independent life

On April 26, 2025, USJ LLC held an online seminar titled “Safe and Secure Use of Internet and Smartphone” in collaboration with its corporate marketing partner, Net One Systems Co., Ltd. The seminar was geared toward junior and senior high school students living in children's homes, providing them with an opportunity to learn about safe and secure internet use.

Many of those living in children's homes are required to leave the facility and begin living independently once they turn 18 years old. The aim of the seminar was to provide an opportunity for these students to gain the knowledge necessary for independent living, thereby preparing them for a stable start to their adult lives.

The seminar was conducted online by connecting two children's homes in Osaka with the streaming studio in real time. Under the theme of “Safe and Secure Use of Internet and Smartphone,” Nami from Net One Systems Co., Ltd., gave a talk covering practical topics such as online shopping, which plays a growing role in daily life, and how to interact safely with others online.

Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Universal Studios Japan's smooth-talking general manager Reika Ayanokoji then arrived, bringing the lively energy of the Park to the streaming studio! The seminar was upbeat and engaging thanks to an atmosphere that encouraged interactive communication with the instructors and Reika Ayanokoji, as well as a quiz-based approach to reinforcing knowledge.

Through concrete examples of problems that have become more prevalent with the rise of the internet, participants learned practical ways to protect themselves, such as how to identify fake profiles, understand cooling-off periods, and handle impersonation on social media.

To wrap up the seminar, participants were quizzed on useful strategies for using the internet, with some Park-related questions mixed in, including one about Reika Ayanokoji's job title. In response to the comedic one-liners the participants gave as responses, Reika Ayanokoji delivered a witty comeback: "You guys are taking the Kansai banter way too far!" The studio erupted in laughter.

In the survey conducted after the seminar, 100% of participants responded positively, with 67% rating it "Very Good." Staff members from the participating children's homes also shared positive feedback, commenting that they appreciated how fun topics were mixed in with the more serious ones, making the whole experience more engaging.

USJ is committed to energizing people and society through super-entertaining creativity. As demonstrated by this seminar, we believe that entertainment has the power to facilitate fun, active learning. Going forward, USJ will continue its efforts to contribute to local communities, thereby building a super-energized regional society full of smiling children.