How safe is the internet for our children?

The question often plagues parents, guardians and teachers alike.

This February in Visoko City, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Ismeta Begić organised a Safer Internet workshop for elementary school children aged 10 -14. Nearly 200 children participated in discussions and activities on Child Safety on the Internet and Causes and Consequences of Bullying.

The children’s workshop provided space for the kids to learn how to stay safe online and how to respect others as well. They learned how to protect their reputation and privacy, and take a stand against cyberbullying.

Globally, the Safer Internet Day was observed on February 9, 2016, so as to create a safer and better internet for all, and children and young people especially.

Google Drive, and  BBC News  were among the big names taking action and talking about the Safer Internet Campaign, which spanned activities and media coverage in over 100 countries, including the elementary school workshop in Visoko.

Ismeta is the President of the Association of Women for Interreligious Dialogue in Family and Society (MOZAIK) and member of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Bosnia. In a previous interview, Ismeta said, “We want to  take better care of each other and (children) who are in need”.

  Quick Facts on Internet safety and children:

• Upto a third of all internet users are children
• Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and common medium for internet access
• Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying. 1 in 4 say it has happened more than once.
• Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying
• Well over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyber bullying occurs
• About 15% of youth between the ages of 10 and 17 have had a person contact them over the Internet with a message that was sexual in nature
• Almost 35% of teens, aged 11 and 12, use social networking sites. Many post personal information; some even share their phone numbers and addresses
• More than three-quarters of children aged 10 to 12 (in the UK) have social media accounts, even though they are below the age limit

For more information on how to make the internet safer for kids and youth, visit Safer Internet Day