Dtac, Telenor Group and DEPA launch new interactive website to educate on safe internet use
Fornebu
7 minute read
The internet can be a challenge to all of us. Who can you trust online? Is it ok to post that picture of your friend on social media without asking? Where is the line between a humourous and a hurtful comment? Who can help when things go wrong? Being online provides boundless opportunities, but also some real threats.
To keep children safe online, dtac in partnership with Telenor Group and Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), has launched a new interactive website, SafeInternetForKid.com, to be used by schools, pupils and parents.
“We see that many young people are more tech-savvy than their parents, but that does not always mean that they know how to stay safe. This is why dtac has closely worked with Telenor Group to leverage the expertise of Parent Zone, the global experts in digital family life, to develop SafeInternetForKid.com, an online curriculum that teachers and parents can use to teach children and youth how to get the most out of the internet, while avoiding danger. dtac is pleased to introduce this global online curriculum in the collaborative framework with DEPA to promote digital literacy as a part of the digital economy promotion policy,” says Alexandra Reich, Chief Executive Officer, dtac.
[caption id="attachment_57606" align="alignleft" width="1250"]
Alexandra Reich, Chief Executive Officer, dtac.[/caption]
“DEPA has a big mission to empower Thai citizens to be ready for the 21st Century. DEPA encourages Thai people – especially children – to increase knowledge and skills for Digital Technology and increase immunities to the risks of the internet which are complex, instant and impactful. DEPA has a Digital Manpower Fund to collaborate with ventures to tackle with challenging online risks and improving Thailand digital Economy,” says Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattapon Nimmanpatcharin, Director, DEPA
Though every child should be safe online that is unfortunately not always the case in practice. A survey of Thai children and online risk during November-December 2017 by Child Online Protection Action Thailand (COPAT), found that a sample of Thai children all over the country aged 9-18 are exposed to online risks such as pornographic risks 68.07% cyberbullying 46.11% and dating friends online 15.97%
To combat the challenges posed online, SafeInternetForKid.com aims to foster young people’s digital resilience, helping them:
SafeInternetForKid.com is designed to help children aged 7-16, their families and schools. It is an online world with an interactive game and downloadable resources. Through the website, the user follows a day in the life of Lil’ Blue, who faces temptations, bullies and fake news online. In the interactive game the player answers questions to guide Lil’ Blue safely through the digital world. Part of the curriculum is designed to be used in an offline environment, to accommodate schools without internet connection.
To optimise the benefits of SafeInternetForKid.com, dtac has collaborated with academic institutes and INSKRU, an educational social enterprise, to localize the curriculum. In addition, dtac has reached out to a wide network of secondary school teachers and over 50,000 students nationwide via both online and on-ground activities.
“Telenor Group believes that connectivity can empower societies and reduce inequalities,” commented Manisha Dogra, VP of Sustainability Asia at Telenor Group at the recent launch in Bangkok. “This partnership is an important contributor towards our global commitment of educating four million children across our markets on online safety by 2020.”
Through a camp, more than 200 students and teachers will engage with experts to exchange constructive dialogue on initiatives to tackle online risks at schools. The youths’ initiatives will be further developed into projects-in-action at schools with advice and financial support from dtac and the Internet for Thailand Foundation. As a data-driven mindset and skills are critical for the workforce in the present and the future, the youths will also be exposed to digital opportunities and future skills such as using data for visualization and storytelling. A platform for youth enablement in the collaboration with DEPA and the Internet for Thailand Foundation, the first camp series will take place this October.
Learn how to stay safe online while having fun at www.safeinternetforkid.com today.
“We see that many young people are more tech-savvy than their parents, but that does not always mean that they know how to stay safe. This is why dtac has closely worked with Telenor Group to leverage the expertise of Parent Zone, the global experts in digital family life, to develop SafeInternetForKid.com, an online curriculum that teachers and parents can use to teach children and youth how to get the most out of the internet, while avoiding danger. dtac is pleased to introduce this global online curriculum in the collaborative framework with DEPA to promote digital literacy as a part of the digital economy promotion policy,” says Alexandra Reich, Chief Executive Officer, dtac.
[caption id="attachment_57606" align="alignleft" width="1250"]
Alexandra Reich, Chief Executive Officer, dtac.[/caption]“DEPA has a big mission to empower Thai citizens to be ready for the 21st Century. DEPA encourages Thai people – especially children – to increase knowledge and skills for Digital Technology and increase immunities to the risks of the internet which are complex, instant and impactful. DEPA has a Digital Manpower Fund to collaborate with ventures to tackle with challenging online risks and improving Thailand digital Economy,” says Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattapon Nimmanpatcharin, Director, DEPA
SafeInternetForKid.com builds digital resilience
Though every child should be safe online that is unfortunately not always the case in practice. A survey of Thai children and online risk during November-December 2017 by Child Online Protection Action Thailand (COPAT), found that a sample of Thai children all over the country aged 9-18 are exposed to online risks such as pornographic risks 68.07% cyberbullying 46.11% and dating friends online 15.97%
To combat the challenges posed online, SafeInternetForKid.com aims to foster young people’s digital resilience, helping them:
- understand when they are at risk online
- know how to seek help
- learn from the experiences of being online
- recover when things go wrong
SafeInternetForKid.com is designed to help children aged 7-16, their families and schools. It is an online world with an interactive game and downloadable resources. Through the website, the user follows a day in the life of Lil’ Blue, who faces temptations, bullies and fake news online. In the interactive game the player answers questions to guide Lil’ Blue safely through the digital world. Part of the curriculum is designed to be used in an offline environment, to accommodate schools without internet connection.
To optimise the benefits of SafeInternetForKid.com, dtac has collaborated with academic institutes and INSKRU, an educational social enterprise, to localize the curriculum. In addition, dtac has reached out to a wide network of secondary school teachers and over 50,000 students nationwide via both online and on-ground activities.
“Telenor Group believes that connectivity can empower societies and reduce inequalities,” commented Manisha Dogra, VP of Sustainability Asia at Telenor Group at the recent launch in Bangkok. “This partnership is an important contributor towards our global commitment of educating four million children across our markets on online safety by 2020.”
Young Safe Internet Leader’s Camp as a platform of youth enablement to tackle online risks at schools
Through a camp, more than 200 students and teachers will engage with experts to exchange constructive dialogue on initiatives to tackle online risks at schools. The youths’ initiatives will be further developed into projects-in-action at schools with advice and financial support from dtac and the Internet for Thailand Foundation. As a data-driven mindset and skills are critical for the workforce in the present and the future, the youths will also be exposed to digital opportunities and future skills such as using data for visualization and storytelling. A platform for youth enablement in the collaboration with DEPA and the Internet for Thailand Foundation, the first camp series will take place this October.
Learn how to stay safe online while having fun at www.safeinternetforkid.com today.