Cybersecurity Awareness
Today’s Technology Challenges
The internet is now prevalent in everyday life and used extensively by adults and children of all ages. As an example, online communication tools have become a dominant part of our lives.
When used properly it is en excellent tool with enormous benefits, but when we used maliciously it can have severe consequences and cause serious harm to victims.
Cyberbullying is a growing problem with increasing numbers of people, including young kids and celebrities, that are using the internet, especially social media sites.
In general, one in 3 young people, mostly between 10 and 15 years old, have said they are victims of online bullying, with 20% of them reporting having skipped school due to cyberbullying and violence (UNICEF).
Studies have found that it’s more harmful than simple name-calling, as it leads to significant psycho-social and life problems or even worse, like the following findings:
- Children who are bullied are three times more likely to show depressive symptoms and nine times more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
- Children who bully have a 25% chance of having a criminal record by the age of 30.
- Children’s bullying has a strong correlation to domestic violence.
Internet Common Threats
- Child Grooming: Defined as befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, and sometimes the family, to lower the child’s inhibitions with the objective of sexual abuse. Child grooming is also regularly used to lure minors into various illicit businesses such as child trafficking, child prostitution, or the production of child pornography.
- Cyberbullying or Cyberharassment: This is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means that has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers. Cyberbullying is when someone, typically teens, bullies or harass others on the internet, particularly on social media sites. Harmful bullying behavior can include posting rumors, threats, sexual remarks, victim’s personal information, or pejorative labels. Bullying or harassment can be identified by repeated behavior and an intent to harm.
- Cyberstalking: Stalking is a process that some people use to scare, threaten, or control someone else by following them and keeping track of their movements. It doesn’t happen just once, it’s repetitive and aims to make the victim feel unsafe.
- Sexting: Sexting involves the sharing of sexually explicit or inappropriate content on digital devices.
Consequences
- Self-Harm: Is any behavior a person uses to intentionally cause injury to themselves. It comes in many forms and is typically a response to distressing negative emotions.
- Sleep Deprivation: For young people, getting enough sleep is crucial for good health and is linked to academic performance and mood. Insufficient sleep can have many causes.
- Anxiety & Depression: When so much of teen’s lives are online, it’s easy for them to get lost in a world of social isolation, unrealistic expectations, and cyberbullying.
- Suicide: Students and youngsters who experienced cyberbullying are nearly two times more likely to attempt suicide.