Safe Internet Day: Correct 4 wrong concepts about children’s safety in digital space

Unfortunately, over recent years, many incorrect beliefs have grown and have grown and have flourished and have flourished with the impact of digital techniques on children’s lives, which led to misleading parents, careers, teachers and policy makers. So, on the occasion of the International Security Internet Day this year, UNICEF highlighted and tackled:

The first wrong concept: Providing more access to the Internet for children can only enhance and benefit their societies

While equality in access to the Internet is a basic goal and that children will definitely benefit from spending time on the Internet, it is not true that increasing access comes only with benefits.

In fact, children are often more vulnerable to hate messages and violent images in countries with greater access to the Internet. While the Internet stimulates social communication, participation and creativity of children, but due to the lack of regulation of digital environments – which are rarely designed with their best -minded interests – they also facilitate the spread of dangerous content.

However, some countries with high access to the Internet managed to reduce these risks. UNICEF said that looking at the policies and practices of these countries, or the most popular platforms in them, may reveal preventive policies or legislative solutions that can be repeated in other places.

She emphasized that countries with growing networks will benefit from pre -emptive efforts to alleviate the damage that may be caused to children in the future. She said that among the instant steps that governments should take is to compel the sector to integrate the care for children’s rights, including strong impact assessments, in the process of regulating hatred and violence on the Internet.

The second wrong concept: playing video games harm children’s growth and well -being

Since video games were spread in the early eighties, there has been a sharp debate about her ability to harm the children playing them. In fact, video games can contribute to supporting the well -being of children, but must be designed in a way that takes into account their needs.

UNICEF said that digital games can positively affect children’s feeling of independence and efficiency, and their ability to understand, organize feelings, form and manage relationships. It can also work as an important source of social communication in children who may find it difficult to communicate with others.

However, she stressed the importance of gaming designers taking into account the needs of children, and it is not an easy task that causes these needs from one child to another. Therefore, designers must understand how positive playing experiences can look like different children, and what are the most likely design options or mechanisms to support them.

The third wrong concept: online violence is completely different from other forms of violence

Children’s experiences with violence in digital spaces are often associated with violence in other contexts. For example, for many children, online bullying is a continuation of bullying that they are already exposed to at home, school or in their neighborhoods.

Criminals also use social media or immediate messages to push children to share sexual images for them or to personally meet them, which facilitates violence or sexual assault.

While more data is needed to understand how online violence and personal violence against children are linked, UNICEF said that understanding these links will be important while designing prevention programs and response strategies. She emphasized that the overlap between sexual violence and personal violence indicates that it is possible to address these damages together.

Fourth misconception: Most cases of sexual assault on children via the Internet are committed by strangers

In fact, many forms of sexual assault online often commit a person who already knows the child, as he can be a friend, one of his acquaintances, a member of his family, or an intimate partner.

However, UNICEF indicated that strangers are really the most common perpetrators in some countries, which confirms the importance of relying on national data in the production of prevention messages, educational approach and responses. She stressed that in the absence of national data, she must take protection and response efforts to take into account all potential perpetrators.

She said that providing caregivers, community leaders, teachers and other professionals with updated information and support for preventing sexual assault on children is very important to dispel common misconceptions, including about the perpetrators of the assault, and the creation of support systems that children can rely on and trust in resorting to.

Summary

Digital technology is a strong force that forms the lives of children, and can provide extensive opportunities for learning, social interaction and integration. However, children also face great risks to their well -being, their independence and safety while they are involved in this digital world.

By challenging misconceptions and processing risks with a data -based vision, we can create safer digital environments and enable children to deal with the world over the Internet in their favor.

This article was published in English on UNICEF on this Link.