Thank you AR for sharing this with us.<br><br>This has been a big concern for a while but, since communication this is a big business (bigger than Oil, Diamonds and the like put together) and since it is it now impossible to live without it. - what the community has to do is continue with the vigilance and guidance.
<br><br>By the way, that is the other side of the coin!!! We just have to deal with the reality and encourage the young users (and new adults) to seek advice before they get hit or hurt!! Everything is dangerous only that we are used to them. Just like crossing a busy road?!
<br><br>It will be wrong in every every limit the young ones use of the Internet and their mobile - parents have to learn (quickly) to keep pace with the little Stars!<br><br>Aluta continua!!<br><br>and well done to the little challengers!!
<br><br>Cheers all <br><br>Yassin<br><br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 10/08/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Anne-Rachel Inné</b> <<a href="mailto:annerachel@gmail.com">annerachel@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><h1 style="font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">This is a concern globally.... do you know of initiatives in your countries? I imagine, the sooner we teach kids about security on the Internet in general, the better sheperds of the tool they become for themselves and for all of us... cheers and nice week end.
<br></font></h1><h1><font style="font-weight: normal;" size="2">ar</font><br></h1><h1><font size="2"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Are Europe's children too
confident in tackling online risks? </b></font></h1>
<h2>
<font size="2"><a name="11450d577bcd815a_Heading7"></a></font><b><i><font size="2">Can parents trust their 13 year old daughter when
she surfs the web? Do they know for sure that their 11 year old son's mobile
phone conversation is safe? A Commission survey of children from all over Europe
has looked into how they use new media. It shows that the use of internet and
mobile phones has become almost self-evident for Europe's young generation. In
general, they also know the risks of using the internet and mobile phones.
However, when facing trouble online, minors will ask an adult only as a last
resort.</font> </i></b></h2>
<p>"This is the first time children all across Europe have been asked directly
how they use online technologies, how much they browse for fun and for
schoolwork, and how they deal with risks," says Viviane Reding, European
Commissioner for Information Society and Media. "It is encouraging to see
Europe's youth embrace digital technologies so confidently. The capability of
making active use of new media is key for the development of a knowledge-based
society in Europe. At the same time, these survey results underline Europe's
need for proactive online media education. We must also continue to raise
awareness about the opportunities and risks of new media, especially among
parents. Where the security of our children is at stake, there can be no room
for complacency."</p>
<p>Eurobarometer's qualitative survey interviewed children of 9-10 and 12-14
years old from all 27 EU Member States plus Norway and Iceland. They were asked
in-depth about how they use online technologies, and how they would react to
problems and risks when using the internet and mobile phones.</p>
<p>The survey shows that children use technologies in very similar ways all
across Europe. Online gaming, surfing and communication are considered as the
top activities online while texting, and talking with parents and friends come
out top for young mobile users.</p>
<p>The majority use the internet several times a day, and also own a personal
mobile phone. Internet use is to some extent limited by parents while the use of
mobile phones is much freer and less supervised. </p>
<p>As one child said: "My parents tell me not to stay more than one or two
hours, because it harms your eyes. I would like to stay longer but they are
right" (Boy, 9-10 years old, Romania)</p>
<p>The results show that children are globally well aware of the<b> potential
online risks</b>, such as security, viruses, access to unwanted content,
identity theft and potential dangerous contact with strangers. </p>
<p> "The hackers are a danger, they may spread viruses that destroy the
hard disk or copy all that we have in the computer, passwords, documents,
etc." (Boy, 9-10 years old, Portugal)</p>
<p>Many of them are also well aware of the <b>necessary precautions</b> they
need to take. </p>
<p>"Don't give your personal data on the internet, nor your mobile phone number
to people you don't know" (Girl, 12-14 years old, Luxembourg) </p>
<p>Some children nevertheless admitted that they have engaged in <b>risky
behaviour</b>, and some acknowledged that they have been victims of bullying and
had contacts with strangers. </p>
<p>"I met him at a station and then it was an old, nasty 44 year old man. Then I
walked away!" (Boy, 12-14 years old, Denmark)</p>
<p>Even though young people know about of the risks and precautions, most would
rather try to <b>solve the problem themselves or with friends</b>, and would
talk to their parents only as a last resort in the most serious cases.</p>
<p>"I would tell anybody except my parents, I would be too much afraid that my
mother finds confirmation of what she fears and prevents me from going to chat
rooms".(Girl, 9-10 years old, Germany)</p>
<p>Eurobarometer's results will help the Commission to further refine how the
EU's Safer Internet programme can best contribute to internet and mobile phone
child safety throughout Europe. It follows the agreement by European mobile
operators, brokered by the Commission in Spring 2007, to self regulate their
efforts to protect minors using mobile phones (see <a href="http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/139&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
IP/07/139</a>).</p>
<p>The next Safer Internet Day will be on 12 February 2008. </p>
<p><b>Background information: </b></p>
<p>The EU's Safer Internet programme has been running since 1999, promoting a
safer use of online technologies particularly by children, and fighting illegal
and harmful content ranging from child abuse images to racism. The current phase
(Safer Internet plus) will run until 2008 (see <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/1512&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
IP/06/1512</a>,
<a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/44&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">MEMO/07/44
</a>).
</p>
<p>The annual Safer Internet day highlights such initiatives globally and helps
raise awareness of the issues surrounding safer use of the internet and new
technologies (see <a href="http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/140&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
IP/07/140</a>,
<a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/126&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">IP/06/126</a>
,
<a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/148&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">IP/05/148</a>
,
<a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/171&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">IP/04/171</a>
).
</p>
<p><b>For more information:</b></p>
<p><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/saferinternet" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://ec.europa.eu/saferinternet</a>
</p>
<p>Findings from the Eurobarometer on Children's use of online technologies:
</p>
<p><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/eurobarometer/" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/eurobarometer/
</a>
</p><span class="sg"><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Anne-Rachel Inne
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https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann</a><br><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>c/o DFID-Nigeria<br>No. 10 Bobo Street<br>Maitama<br>Abuja<br>Nigeria<br><br>Skype: yassin mshana<br>Mobile: +234-803 970 5117