World Safer Internet Day is observed in over 100 countries each year on 9 February. The day exists to raise awareness that we all have a role to play in keeping the internet a safe as possible: to foster the positive and challenge the negative to create a better online world for all, including our children. Parenting expert, Nikki Bush, gives some advice on how you can play your part in Safer Internet Day:
Safer Internet Day (SID) is organised by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, each February to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile devices, especially among children and young people.
South African organisation, Safer Schools, is championing the day locally and will expand the campaign’s reach in the years to come with local sponsors in support of a better and safer internet for all.
We all need to ensure that our children make the most of the positive opportunities offered online, while giving them the resilience, skills, knowledge and support they need to navigate any online risks they may come across.
Ways we can all contribute to a safer and better internet
Here are some ideas from www.saferinternetday.org:
Children and young people can help to create a better internet by being kind and respectful to others online, by protecting their online reputations (and those of others), and by seeking out positive opportunities to create, engage and share online. They can help to respond to the negative by being ‘helpful bystanders’: supporting peers if they encounter issues online, taking a stand against cyberbullying, and reporting any inappropriate or illegal content they find. Above all, children and young people should be encouraged to take their stand as digital citizens of the future – participating in debates on the future of the internet, and making their voices heard.
Parents and carers can help to create a better internet by maintaining an open and honest dialogue with their children about their online lives, by supporting them with their personal development online and helping them to deal with any concerns or issues, seeking out positive opportunities to engage with their children online, and helping their children to find and use good quality digital resources. They can help to respond to the negative by staying engaged with their child’s online activity (as appropriate to their age), by modelling positive online behaviours themselves, and by also reporting any inappropriate or illegal content they find.
Educators and social care workers can help to create a better internet by equipping children and young people with the digital literacy skills they require for today’s world, and giving them opportunities to use – and create – positive content online. They can help to respond to the negative by supporting young people if they encounter problems online, and by giving them the resilience, confidence and skills that young people need to navigate the internet safely.
Industry has a role to play by creating and promoting positive content and safe services online and by empowering users to respond to any issues by providing clear safety advice, a range of easy-to-use safety tools, and quick access to support if things do go wrong.
Decision makers and politicians need to provide the culture in which all of the above can function and thrive – for example, by ensuring that there are opportunities in the curriculum for children to learn and teachers to teach about online safety, ensuring that parents and carers have access to appropriate information and sources of support, and that industry are encouraged to self regulate their content and services. They must also take the lead in governance and legislation, and ultimately ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people through effective child protection strategies for the online world.
Parenting strategies to support Safer Internet Day this week
Have conversations with your children at home and at school about keeping the internet safe.
Check that all your families devices are password protected. Read my article on creating stronger passwords here.
Use the following hashtags to tweet:
Improve your knowledge of the digital world you are bringing your children up in by reading my book, co-authored with Arthur Goldstuck, called Tech-Savvy Parenting. Purchase the book in good bookstores or from me here.
Book a digital safety talk for your school this year. Click here to find out more about my digital safety talks for parents, schools and learners.
Learn more about Nikki Bush’s positive parenting advice.
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