The internet has connected us with the rest of the world in a way that we never imagined. It is a marvellous tool, offering children and young people an endless amount of information, entertainment and communication opportunities. Like all tools, however, it needs to be used wisely. Its immediacy and ease of use also pose some challenges.
The internet can present a number of risks to the safety and well-being of children and young people. Therefore it is extremely important for parents, carers, teachers and people working with children and young people to be aware of and to recognise these risks to be able to help them navigate their way on the internet safely.
As Commissioner for Children, I have the responsibility to ensure that the rights of children, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, are being guaranteed.
Children have a right to access the internet and also to be safe and protected online. It is the responsibility of all those working and caring for children to take an active role in ensuring that children and young people have the necessary skills to recognise the online risks and to be aware of how to act should they encounter difficulties. Children and young people should also be offered the necessary support should they require it.
Fully aware of the need to reach parents and the public in general, my office immediately endorsed Magic Malta’s initiative to embark on a Think Before You Click campaign. Together with other entities, we designed the format and message content, which aims to create awareness on the safe use of the internet. Other stakeholders include MSV Life and BeSmartOnline!, an EU-funded initiative led by the Malta Communications Authority and which my office also forms part of, together with the Foundation for Social Welfare Services and the Education Ministry.
Face-to-face communication with children and young people remains the key element
The Think Before You Click campaign, launched last month, will run for 20 weeks. A number of short messages have been produced and are being aired on Magic Radio at regular intervals, mainly targeted at parents and carers. However, children also benefit from hearing them. The over-arching themes used throughout the campaign are those of respect towards oneself and others as well as ensuring privacy.
The campaign is also a response to the need shown by parents and carers to know more about new technologies and who feel inadequate when compared to their children’s knowledge of internet use. This campaign aims to reach out to them, to instil confidence in their parenting skills and to help them understand that keeping children safe online does not necessarily mean knowing everything about the internet.
Face-to-face communication with children and young people remains the key element. Speaking to children and trying to understand what they are doing online is extremely important. What is appropriate or inappropriate offline is also appropriate or inappropriate online.
The messages addressing the issue of privacy aim to help people to stop and think before posting and/or sharing photos, videos and information online. Once something is online you lose control of it, as you may never know who has access to it and who is sharing it.
Anything posted online may be manipulated and used against the interest of the child and young person themselves and it remains there for anyone to access. This may also be used to inflict harm on children and adults alike. Everything that exists about a person online forms their digital footprint. People may form their opinion about a person depending on what exists about them online.
The campaign also aims to address the issue of cyber-bullying and the negative effect it has on children and young people. Awareness is being raised on how cyber-bullying can be avoided and what should be done if children become victims of this form of bullying.
The campaign also encourages people to seek help with internet safety for children. Those needing help can call the helpline 179, e-mail 179.appogg@gov.mt or visit www.besmartonline.org.mt.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.thinkbforeyouclick.eu.
Pauline Miceli is Commissioner for Children.