Help to draw up digi rights policy

St Ambrose High pupil Emma McFarlane has helped to produce a report for the Scottish Government on digital rights for young people.

The fifth-year student was part of the Young Scot 5Rights youth commission, a 19-strong panel of young people aged between 14 and 21 helping campaign to promote principles enabling young people to make best use of the internet.

Emma and her fellow panellists recently visited Holyrood to share their first- hand insight – from a year’s work which included surveying nearly 1700 under-18s – with culture secretary Fiona Hyslop and childcare minister Mark McDonald.

Their report made several recommendations to the Scottish Government, including creating a centralised point for young people to review and manage their digital footprints; integrating digital literacy into all areas of education and encouraging girls into technical professions; limiting unnecessary collection of young people’s data online; and the provision of greater internet access in rural areas and wifi in public areas.

Results found that three in five young people have experienced online bullying or know someone who has been affected; 59 per cent of young people said their parents or carers had tried to limit the amount of time they spend on the internet; and that 41 per cent don’t know if their rights are being observed in the digital world.

Bargeddie resident Emma said: “We often hear a distinction between the ‘ real world’ and ‘virtual world’ – in reality, they’re intertwined.

“For society to move forward in realising the rights of young people, it’s no longer appropriate to view online and offline as two exclusive and separate entities.

“As young people’s lives, careers and education become more and more digitalised, it’s important that the government continues to prioritise the ‘ 5Rights’ and embed them in our society.”

A UK-wide initiative, 5Rights aims to allow young people to go online “creatively, knowledgeably and fearlessly”, centred round key rights – to easily edit or delete their online content; to know why and by whom personal data is being exchanged; to safety and support online; to make informed and conscious choices; and to digital literacy.

Emma successfully applied to be part of the select panel via the Young Scot website; and has spent time participating in seminars, residential events and evidence sessions covering issues ranging from cyber security to mental health – as well as gathering opinions from young people in North Lanarkshire.

She told the Advertiser at the

Digital age Emma McFarlane was part of the Young Scot 5Rights youth commission