Safer Internet Day is a day to celebrate how children and adults can learn from each other when they meet online in social media networks and systems and through use of digital devices (cell phones, Instant messaging etc.).

In honour of the day’s theme, Tuesday 6 February has been nominated for Safer Internet Day 2018.

The theme for the day is ‘Lets Create a better internet together’ Cyber C3 will provide engaging, informative and fun resources to facilitate discussion across the generations about engaging each other online.

• Actions for Schools and Libraries

  

  Safer Internet day encourages schools and libraries to:

  1. Learn and connect together.
  2. Utilize Cyber C3 interactive activities and resources to take positive actions and teach each other about staying safe online.

  Key messages

  Cyber C3 key messages for schools, libraries and families this Safer Internet Day is:

  1. Talk about online safety—with all members of your family and school community,
  2. Protect Your Privacy—Check your privacy settings and update your software,
  3. Educate yourself about the online world—check out the Cyber C3 resources and information to better understand the internet and its services.

• Actions for Families

  

  Safer Internet day encourages families to:

  1. Learn and connect together.
  2. Take positive actions and teach each other about staying safe online.

  Key messages

  Talk about online safety – “You don’t know what you don’t know.”
  Kids and teens have never known a world without the internet, while parents and grandparents are often struggling to keep pace with ever changing technologies.
  One of the most important things that families can do to understand the online environment is talk to each other about how they interact online.

  1. Ask someone who already has a computer and understands the technology to help you choose one for yourself.
  2. Set up a free email account to stay in touch with family and friends.
  3. Collect a list of websites and blogs that you enjoy, and can re-visit by bookmarking them. Ask your family to help you with this and show you how to do it yourself for next time.
  4. Create accounts on social networking websites or other sites where your family posts their photos, videos and information.
  5. Create login names and secure passwords to protect your online information.
  6. If you have a digital camera, ask your family to show you how to post your own pictures online.

  Note: always protect your personal information online just as you would in the physical world.
  Never give out your passwords or personal details, and ensure that you have virus software installed on your computer

• Top 5 talking points for parents

  

  1. What are the sites that you use the most?
  2. Do you use social networking sites?
  3. Do you use the privacy settings—and how?
  4. Are you friends online with people that you don’t know in the real world?
  5. What would you do if one of your online friends wanted to meet in person?

• Educate yourself about the online world

  

  Knowledge is power! Understanding your digital environment is the first step to ensuring a safe and fruitful experience online.

  Parents – It’s time to learn new skills!
  The internet is becoming a more familiar entity for parents, but there are still plenty of parents who do not really understand the concept or the content of the World Wide Web.

  While some parents may be confused by YouTube, Facebook or a meme, a six-year-old might know how to navigate the net with speed and precision.

  Therefore, it is important for parents to have some familiarity with internet safety so that they can teach good online behaviour and know how to monitor their children & grandchildren so as to ensure their online protection.

  It’s not as scary as you might think! The same principles apply online as they do in everyday life; don’t talk to strangers, be kind and protect your personal information.

• Top 5 online safety tips for parents

  

  1. Check out www.cyberc3.ae
  2. Make digital issues part of everyday conversation
  3. Encourage your children to use the privacy settings, and to think carefully before accepting online friends
  4. Don’t be afraid to try technologies and sites for yourself
  5. Communicate with other parents and teachers

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• 3 steps to becoming comfortable with technology and the internet

  1. Sit together with your children or grandchildren at the computer and ask them to give you a tour around the web, explain what they are doing and how they use each particular website. Ask your family to ‘drive’ before you have a turn clicking around yourself, especially if you are just starting out.
  2. Ask your family to show you how the internet can benefit you, and make your life easier. You can do your banking, stay in touch with your children or grandchildren, pay bills, go shopping, look at photos of friends and family, have groceries delivered, enter competitions, legally download music, television shows and movies and research any topic you like! Just make sure that you are made aware of the risks and potential issues you may encounter before you go online by clicking on each topic in the links below.
  3. Once you feel comfortable, have a go at navigating the online world yourself. Try new things and explore at your own pace, one click at a time. Go through it twice:
  1. For comprehension.
  2. To create written step-by-step instructions if you need them.

  Technology doesn’t have to be hard; in fact, once you have a go at it, you will be sure to find something that you will find enjoyable or help make your life easier.

• Be your child’s safety net

  As a parent or grandparent, you can play an important role in helping your children have safe and positive experiences online. By becoming aware of how children and young people use the internet, some of the risks they face and the strategies available to manage these risks, you can help guide your children to enjoy the best of the online world. For more information and to increase your knowledge, click the parents tab to learn more about:

  1. Cyber bullying
  2. Sexting
  3. Unwanted sexual contact
  4. E-commerce and e-security
  5. Protecting personal information
  6. Safer social networking
  7. Inappropriate content
  8. Excessive internet use
  9. Mobile phones