Netflix Backs 25-Hour World Record for Internet Training

Imagine learning to stay safe online from experts streaming live from every corner of the planet, all in one continuous 25-hour event.

Connected Nation, a nonprofit celebrating 25 years of bridging the digital divide, will attempt a Guinness World Record for the longest internet literacy livestream on September 24. Netflix is backing the effort alongside more than 25 organizations spanning Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the United States.

The event, called "25 Hours. One Connected World," starts at 9 a.m. Eastern on Thursday and runs through Friday. Anyone can join the free training sessions, which cover essential skills like creating strong passwords, spotting scams, and recognizing fake messages that impersonate trusted brands.

The schedule follows the sun, with each hour-long session airing during daytime in the trainer's home region. That means learners worldwide can tune in during their own waking hours while the broadcast runs continuously.

The stakes are higher than many realize. According to the International Telecommunication Union, billions of people already online still lack basic digital safety skills. In the United States alone, nearly one in three workers lack the foundational digital skills needed in today's economy, even for jobs that don't involve computers.

Heather Gate, executive vice president at Connected Nation, says employers now rely on email for everything from sending pay stubs to scheduling shifts. Workers without basic digital literacy often get left behind.

The pandemic exposed how deep these gaps run. When schools moved online, families discovered millions of students had no home internet or shared a single smartphone for all their learning.

The Ripple Effect

The world record attempt does more than chase a title. It shines a spotlight on an invisible barrier keeping people from fully participating in modern life, whether that's accessing healthcare, applying for jobs, or connecting with loved ones.

Gate notes the challenge keeps evolving with every new technology. Today, artificial intelligence is changing how organizations teach digital literacy, creating fresh hurdles even as old ones get cleared.

The event must maintain at least 50 live viewers and keep streaming without pauses longer than one minute to qualify for the record. Connected Nation created this new Guinness category specifically to highlight the urgent need for digital skills training.

As the nonprofit looks beyond the record attempt, its focus remains on sustainable change through programs like the federal BEAD initiative, which aims to ensure everyone has internet access nationwide.

A quarter century of work has taught Connected Nation one lesson: connecting people to the internet is only the first step, and teaching them to use it safely creates opportunity that ripples outward forever.