February 5, 2013. (Romereports.com) February 5th marks '
Safer Internet Day' in Europe. It's a day to promote the safe and responsible use of the web and the rights of its users. NGO
Intermedia Social Innovation is taking part in this fight. Back in 2011, it started collaborating with the European Commission to create awareness and to stop cyber violence.
This NGO actually surveyed 7,000 teenagers in Spain and Italy. Over 55 percent said they accept cyber violence as a legitimate tool.
REYNALDO RIVERA
Manager, Intermedia Social Innovation
“After taking this survey we went to more than 55 elementary schools. More than 30 of them in Italy, the rest in Spain. Students were given four sessions about social media, video games and TV series. All of these had concrete examples of virtual life, so we talked about how these models reflected their own lives.”
Reynaldo Rivera says that digital literacy is essential for teens. Especially when it comes to taking advantage of its benefits. But teenagers should also be aware of the real world effects of their actions in the digital world.
REYNALDO RIVERA
Manager, Intermedia Social Innovation
“There's nothing more frustrating than a teenager uploading a picture on the web and then realizing the next day that the picture is all over school and it can't be deleted... It's a complex issue because we don't measure the consequences of our actions or the pain they can provoke. We need be conscious of our actions.”
Precisely to promote this type of digital education, Rivera has launched an international training program, which includes schools in El Salvador, Nigeria, Spain, Italy, the Philippines and India.
So, along with the EU,
this NGO is hoping that young students will stay away from digital violence and bullying and instead use the internet to network and learn.
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