Message to mark Safer Internet Day in Seychelles
05 February 2013
Safer Internet Day (SID) is observed in February
to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile
internet, especially amongst children and young people across the world. Each
year hundreds of events around the world are organised to raise awareness about
online safety issues.
2013 is the 10th anniversary of Safer Internet Day which is being celebrated
with the theme ‘Online Rights and Responsibilities’ and the slogan ‘Connect
with Respect’,
Rights and responsibilities are fundamental to
internet safety. Without it you leave yourself open to many different online
attacks from fraud to online bullying.
In everything that we do online we have to think if it is within
our rights and if we have the responsibility to do it. For many of us this may
be difficult, because our rights and responsibilities online are different
offline, which is why it is important to include these ideas into our daily
lives at a young enough age and adapt to them quickly.
Many of you are skilled at understanding new technologies and cannot
imagine how to live without them. You carry with you powerful access devices
and are constantly linking to social network sites, building your own online
communities and creating and sharing content.
However, as a child you can be impulsive and often you do not
think through the consequences of your actions, whether you are on or offline. When
communicating with electronic devices and on the Internet you need to be aware
of your rights and responsibilities.
The devices you carry contain all kinds of information about you:
phone numbers you call, friends you contact, your text or e-mail conversations,
photos, videos, websites visited, location, and more. You have a right to keep
this information private.
The Internet is a powerful tool for communication. Posting
information on the Internet can be like publishing it in the newspaper. If the
website is public, anyone can look at it.
Many Internet users, however, do not realize that they are
publishing to the world and the Internet has potential for misuse.
You have the right to post on a public website, but do it
responsibly and with care because other people could take your posting and copy
it to another website where you cannot delete it. So think carefully before you
post.
You have the right to express yourself online, whether you are
writing e-mails, posting to a blog, updating a homepage, or talking in a
chat-room, but you are also responsible for your actions as they affect others.
Schools and parents cannot impose complete restrictions on the use
of technology in order to protect young people.
The school’s most important duty is to provide education for all
students. As students you are responsible for following school rules so that
the school remains a safe, welcoming place where all students can learn.
School computers are equipped with filtering software that
prevents access to websites considered improper for a school setting or which
contain harmful software. There are limits on Internet access to sites in order
to maintain a working educational environment.
Bullying, in-person or through electronic means, is a form of
aggression that can cause fear, shame, and interferes with another student's
right to receive an education.
Cyberbullying is online bullying, and happens when the Internet,
cell phones, or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended
to hurt or embarrass another person.
It is against the rules to bring a cell phone to school, and using
a cell phone to secretly capture a video of other people and post it online from
home violates their privacy.
Whether you are recording a conversation or taking pictures with
your cell phone, you have to respect other people's privacy rights. Ask for permission before you record a
conversation, take pictures or video. If someone asks you to stop, or the person
you asked does not agree, recording the conversation is illegal.
Taking, sending, viewing and even possessing nude, semi-nude or
other sexually explicit images, videos, or other digital content, also known as
"sexting," can get you into serious trouble both at school and with
the law. Underage sexting is illegal. Forwarding images, videos, or other
digitally sexted content you receive from another person is a crime.
Putting your
real name, address, or phone number on a public website is like putting the
information up on a billboard – anybody can read and use the information for
any purpose, without you ever knowing.
To protect your personal information from being used without your
permission, you should not give out this information when posting or
communicating online.
You have a right to protect yourself online and ensure your
personal information is secure.
We all have the right to educate ourselves and those close to us
on how to stay safe online.
Respect and protect yourself and others. If a friend or someone
close to you is experiencing cyber bullying, trolling, unwanted contact or
sexting, encourage them to report it and seek support by talking to a trusted
adult.
Playing games online and using consoles or games on a computer is
great fun, but you to need to be careful how much you play and who you play
with.
Your digital reputation is defined by your behaviours in the
online environment and by the content that you post about yourself and others. Connect
with Respect. Know your rights and responsibilities and respect the rights of
others online.
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