SAFETY FIRST:
Skills for Tomorrow can help protect young people online
THE public got its first taste of the internet in 1989 when people could access the world of emails. In the same year the world wide web was created.
In those 31 years, much has changed including the way the internet is used, the way that people engage with content online, and how it has saturated most people’s daily lives.
While the internet can be a highly collaborative, creative and positive place, there are darker sides which aren’t something that is always commonly discussed. Most of us put this knowledge of its darker side to the back of our minds, but we shouldn’t.
In a world which is now perceived to be smaller than ever – largely due to the prevalence of the internet – we can contact friends and family on the other side of the world at the swipe of a screen and, for something seemingly so easy to engage with, it can be substantially harder to approach the subject of internet safety.
The thing to note is that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that young people are staying safe from the potential perils of the internet.
This year, BT is promoting the idea of staying safe and savvy online alongside Safer Internet Day, which took place yesterday.
This international day is celebrated in over 100 countries with the theme ‘together for a better internet.’
The day is coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre which is a partnership of three different organisations - Childnet, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and SWGfL and helps to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people all across the UK.
BT’s free training programme named Skills For Tomorrow is also an ongoing scheme that upholds the same goal of equipping everyone with the skills to be safe and happy online.
Marc Allera, CEO consumer at BT, said: “At BT, we believe we can break down barriers and unlock huge potential for everyone – no matter who you are, where you live and how old you are – by helping provide people with the digital skills they need.
“We’re doing this through a tech training programme we call Skills for Tomorrow. Being safe online is a huge part of that.”
He added: “BT’s Skills for Tomorrow is designed to help families build understanding and support their children to be safe online.”
While highlighting the dangers the web can pose from strangers is a big part of Safer Internet Day, the day also aims to guide children and young adults on how to keep their online space a positive one.
Many teens and younger have experienced cyber bullying at some point and Safer Internet Day has posed a few questions for users to reflect on in a bid to make people more mindful of the things they upload.
- Are you being someone online that you would be proud to be in real life?
- Are you being mindful of who you are talking to and what personal details and pictures you are sharing with them?
- Are the people you’re communicating with online good for your own self esteem?
With these questions in mind, small changes can be made to the benefit of all. In short, make sure the people you are talking to bring you up not pull you down. And ultimately treat others with respect.
Professor Kerensa Jennings, BT Digital Impact Director, added: “At BT, we want to help break down barriers so more people can make the most of life in the digital world. Part of that is helping parents feel more confident about supporting their children to navigate the opportunities and the challenges of the internet.
“From protecting children’s privacy to managing screen time, at BT we know how important it is for parents to have these important conversations with their kids from an early age so that everyone can make the most of the internet, but also be aware of potential dangers.
“Our free Skills for Tomorrow programme gives parents and children the chance to expand their digital skills and knowledge through free online modules in order for them to safely and happily enjoy the internet.”