The holistic approach to child online safety

Davey Winder
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 17:39

Your IT - Home IT

There is a set of four guidelines which together advocate empowering children and young people through education and awareness; providing information, advice and safety tips for parents, guardians and educators; and providing key information to policy makers as well as to industry in order to formulate national and international strategies.

As far as kids are concerned, the ITU insists that it is critical that threats to their well being are addressed by all stake holders. And that includes the kids themselves.

To this end they are being encouraged to understand how to install firewalls and anti-virus software as well as spotting 'unusual' communications. The draft guidelines therefore look at children's online rights, harmful and illegal content, cyber bullying, privacy and online commerce.

The European Network & Information Security Agency (ENISA) recognises that parents and educators must also work together and so is promoting awareness among parents to enhance the safety of children using virtual worlds and the Internet. ENISA says that parents must be educated, empowered and engaged to ensure truly positive and valuable experiences for their children, while reinforcing safety online habits in the process.

When it comes to policy-makers, always the biggest thorn in the side of any movement for real change, the Children's Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety (CHIS) notes that Governments and policy makers have a major responsibility to set up a sustainable framework within which an appropriate national and multinational response can be developed.

But perhaps the biggest hurdle when attempting to 'clean up the Internet' comes from the industry itself. Ms Natasha Jackson, Head of Content Policy, GSMA insisted that is very much in the industry's interests to take action, not only because it is the right thing to do from a moral perspective, but also because, in the longer run, it will help develop public confidence in the Internet as a medium.

In a statement, the European Broadcasting Union welcomed the launch of the Child Online Protection Initiative and the creation of common Guidelines for Industry in a converged digital world. "The EBU strongly believes that widespread media literacy is the best and ultimate protection for children" Jean Reveillon, Director General of the European Broadcasting Union said.