MaltaMedia.com

INSAFE, a European network of awareness centres promoting the safe, responsible use of online technology and mobile phones especially amongst young people across the world, has chosen ‘Think B4 U Post’ as the theme to commemorate this years’ ‘Safer Internet Day’ on the 9th of February.

As part of its mandate to regulate the electronic communications sector, the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) is also responsible for the safer use of internet and other communication technologies through its Information Society unit which centres its activities on the promotion of ICT for business and social inclusion.

In its activities, the MCA collaborates with a number of other national agencies, including the Malta Police Force, Agenzija Appogg, the Children’s Commissioner Office and the Directorate for educational services to promulgate the safer use of these technologies. Awareness and educational programmes for parents and children have somewhat addressed this issue. As a general rule, parents should adopt the same precautionary measures they do in the physical world. Here are some simple steps parents should consider:

1. Always keep the computer in a room occupied by the whole family and not in a bedroom;

2. Have regular discussions with the child about the material he/she is sending and receiving over the Internet and the problems that could arise;

3. Discuss how best to behave online, privacy settings that should be set up, what information is safe to share, the importance of asking friends’ permission before uploading photos, who to trust and how to go about this; and

4. Install filtering software that blocks content that can be harmful to minors, although this should not be considered as an effective substitute to adult supervision.

The Internet is an excellent tool that most of us cannot imagine living without. But like everything else, it is important that it is used well. As much as it is engrained in our culture to look left, right and left again when crossing the road, not to talk to strangers or to respect the dignity of our fellow people, we need to create a “culture of security” amongst online users that will result in greater respect to our ‘cyber-buddies’ too.