Browsing the internet safely, and not just by the younger generation, is such a hot issue that Vodafone Malta has taken the initiative to launch a campaign that educates people on how to thrive in digital world without falling prey to the many dangers that lurk inside it.
The initiative’s focal point is the ibrowsesafely.com.mt website which brims with advice and resources on such aspects as digital parenting, representation of the self in the online world, and the safe use of social media in an age where almost all children have internet access and most of them are present on such services as Facebook even though they are not supposed to be there.
“Vodafone has been a leader on the issue of online safety for a number of years,” explained a spokesman for the mobile operator.
“In fact, Vodafone Group has a fully-fledged website on digital parenting as well as a magazine on the subject, bringing international experts together with the latest research on the multitude of issues that constitute digital parenting. Vodafone Malta recognised the importance of the issue in Malta and decided to bring to the Maltese public the availability of Vodafone Group’s resources and experience and adapt them to a Maltese audience. Our website will also be the first website on the issue in Maltese.”
The website ibrowsesafely.com.mt has been set up in support of the BeSmartOnline initiative, an EU-funded project that brings together stakeholders involved in providing a safe internet environment and related support services in Malta. It complements all the good work that this initiative has done and throughout the process of the establishment of this website Vodafone been in constant contact with the BeSmartOnline initiative to have both efforts in sync.
While BeSmartOnline is mainly targetted at minors, Vodafone’s initiative broadens the scope to include all internet users, young and not.
“Online safety is not an issue that is unique to the younger generation. Indeed, as older generations become more and more connected and spend more time online, the issues that are raised are similar in nature. While the launch of the website is mainly targeted at parents, grandparents and educators in view of their roles and responsibilities with children, the topics covered and resources made available serve also as a check for adult users.
“The webpage will be interactive and will include a regularly updated blog as well as a Facebook page on the subject. Issues will also include specific topics for adults as well as dedicated spaces for persons with disability and technology,” add the company’s spokesman.
Vodafone confirmed an exponential increase in usage of internet access over mobile devices in the last few years and this trend is set to continue.
A recent Malta Communications Authority (MCA) study indicated that 98 per cent of Maltese children have access to the internet and out of these 56 per cent are on mobile phones or tablets.
“Naturally, we see an increase in the sale of such devices over Christmas, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Again, the trend is on the increase. Such considerations make a resource such as ibrowsesafely.com.mt more and more relevant and important,” the company’s spokesman insisted.
The ibrowsesafely campaign is being run by a professional in the field, Veronica Montanaro, and will include various contributions by others in order to ensure a reliable and relevant resource of information for those interested in keeping up to date with technological advances. The webpage will also include plug-and-play presentations for teachers using whiteboards as well as ‘how to’ guides on security settings and various free downloads related to online safety including applications for better security online.
This will complement the Vodafone Guardian app for Android devices that provides parents with a facility to change the device’s settings to provide a safer internet environment for the family. It is available free of charge from www.vodafone.com.mt/guardian-app.