MINISTRY OF INTERIOR CHILD PROTECTION CENTRE

(MoI-CPC)

SAFER INTERNET DAY 11 FEBRUARY 2014

PARENTS KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE

WHAT IS SAFER INTERNET DAY?

Global event that drives safety initiatives and awarenesson the Internet.

Organized by INSAFE, guided by the EuropeanCommission.

Allows entities to learn about the online risks andengage in activities to promote online safety forchildren.

WHY COMMEMORATE SAFER INTERNET DAY?

The Safer Internet day allows us to:

highlight the need to address the various situations thatchildren are exposed to while online;

understand the risks involved;

build knowledge on how to navigate the online spacesafely; and

protect children from becoming victims of abuse.

Globally children are spending an average of 1.6 hoursevery day online

62% of children worldwide have had a negative onlineexperience yet only 45% of parents realize this

51% of children say they download computer gameswithout supervision

The United Arab Emirates had 5,859,118 Internet users asof June 30, 2012; which equates to 70.9% of thepopulation.

HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE ONLINE?

WHAT CHILDREN DO ONLINE?

83% Play Games

73% Surf the Internet

71% Do School work

67% Talk to Friends

Source: Norton Online Family Report Global Insights into Family Life Online 2010

WHAT ARE ONLINE RISKS FOR CHILDREN?

Cyberbullying

Grooming by online offenders

Exposure to inappropriate content

Losing control over their personal information

Technical and PC related dangers (virus, hacking, stealing of information etc.)

WHAT IS CYBER BULLYING?

Cyber bullying is bullying that takes place using electronictechnology.

Electronic technology includes devices and equipment suchas cell phones, computers, and tablets as well ascommunication tools including social media sites, textmessages, chat, and websites.

WHAT IS CYBER BULLYING?

Examples of cyber bullying include mean text messages oremails, rumours sent by email or posted on socialnetworking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos,websites, or fake profiles.

21% of 8 to 11 year olds have been deliberately targeted,threatened or humiliated by an individual or group throughthe use of mobile phone or the internet.

WHY CYBER BULLYING IS DIFFERENT?

Children who are being cyber bullied are often bullied inperson as well.

Cyber bullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,and reach a child even when he or she is alone.

WHY CYBER BULLYING IS DIFFERENT?

Cyber bullying messages and images can be postedanonymously and distributed quickly to a very wideaudience.

It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace thesource.

Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, andpictures is extremely difficult after they have been postedor sent.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Offer reassurance and support.

Tell a child that if they are ever bullied, then they must

always keep evidence.

Block the bullies.

Report any bullying content to the website it’s hosted

on.

WHAT IS ONLINE GROOMING?

Grooming is a process used to prepare a child for sexual

abuse.

Grooming can take many different forms, from one off

contact which may include sexual advances, to a series of

events over time.

An offender’s aim when grooming is to gain access to a

child and build a relationship with that child.

WHAT IS ONLINE GROOMING?

May start with an adult scanning websites to identify a

vulnerable child or befriending a child.

Online it is easier for an offender to lie and gain one to one

contact with a child, for example through a social

networking or gaming site.

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF ONLINE GROOMING?

Child’s unhealthy or heightened level of internet usage

Child becomes more secretive about who they are talking

to

Child engaging in any sexual behaviour online or via text,

chat or webcam

Child received any unexplained new electronic devices or

gifts

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Talk to your child about who they are friends with and how

to manage these online relationships.

Suggest meeting their online friend’s offline and they must

take a parent or a trusted adult with them to the meeting.

Set clear boundaries, tell them why parents are concerned

for their safety.

WHAT IS EXPOSURE TO INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT?

Range of things online that might upset children and affectwhat should be a healthy online experience.

Inappropriate content online includes pornographiccontent, pro eating disorders, gambling sites, sites thatpromote racism, advertise for sex or even provide detailedinstructions for drug making or lock picking etc.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Use parental controls packages to block access to adult

websites, such as pornographic and gambling sites.

Use age appropriate controls on the sites children use to

reduce the risk.

Have conversation with your child about content online.

Ask children to tell if they see anything that makes them

feel uncomfortable or upset to seek parents support.

WHAT IS LOSING CONTROL OVER PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Pictures and videos can be copied, shared and spread atgreat speed.

Some young people have posted or sent sexualisedpictures of themselves to a friend and found them sharedfurther.

These materials can then be used against the child forvarious reasons.

WHAT IS LOSING CONTROL OVER PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Bullying – young people can be bullied by others about thecontent of pictures

Distress – knowing that other people that they do notknow are looking at personal pictures can be very upsetting

WHAT IS LOSING CONTROL OVER PERSONAL INFORMATION?

Blackmail – if the images end up in the hands of someonewith bad intentions, they may be used to attempt tomanipulate the child.

Reputation – once something is online it is very difficult toremove. Therefore images can become part of a youngperson’s ‘digital footprint’ and potentially affect them inthe long-term, such as if someone searches their name aspart of a job interview.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Talk to your children about what they’re up to online.

Set boundaries in the online world just as you would in the real world.

Keep all equipment that connects to the internet in a family space.

Know what connects to the internet and how.

WHAT ARE TECHNICAL AND PC RELATED DANGERS?

WEBCAM ABUSE – Online sexual extortion

An offender makes contact with a young person online.

Tricks the young person into sending them an indecent

picture, appearing naked or performing sexual acts on

webcam.

The offender records the webcam footage.

The offender threaten to share the video if they don’t

perform more sexual acts.

WHAT ARE TECHNICAL AND PC RELATED DANGERS?

VIRUSES AND SPYWARE

Viruses and spyware can cause very serious consequences

including: Identity theft; fraud; deletion, theft and

corruption of data

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Use parental controls on devices that link to the internet,such as the TV, laptops, computers, and mobile phones.

Reach an agreement - set boundaries with their childabout what they can and can’t do online is to set anagreement with them.

"If you see something wrong, you shouldcorrect it with your hand and if you areunable to, then speak out against it andif you cannot do that, then feel that it iswrong in your heart."

Prophet Mohammed