Staying Safe Online: Safe Use of ICTs

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Staying Safe Online - Safe Use of ICTs

Do you log onto Internet sites or use social media platforms?

Do you watch movies, news and read blog posts?

Then this topic will be of great benefit to you!

Do you want to know why? Most young people today have access to the internet more than ever before and while it is a great technological advancement with lots of benefits, it also poses a threat to its users if misused.

What is the internet? 🌐

The Internet is a publicly available worldwide network of computers that are connected to send and receive information, often called “data”. It is a ‘network of computers’ that consists of millions of smaller home, educational, business, and government networks.

What is ICT? 💻

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can be defined as a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to transmit, store, create, share or exchange information. These technological tools and resources include

Computers
The Internet (websites, blogs and emails),
Live broadcasting technologies (radio, television and webcasting),
Recorded broadcasting technologies (podcasting, audio and video players, and storage devices)
Fixed or mobile, satellite, visio/video-conferencing, etc.

The Media 📽

The media provide a means of learning about the world and have great influence whether positively or negatively on our ideas, values, attitudes, norms on gender roles, love, relationships, sexuality, family roles etc.

There are different forms of media which include radio, television, newspapers, billboards, magazines, social media, internet etc. and not all information provided by these media is true.

Most messages and images on the media are oftentimes not realistic and can influence our perceptions about sexuality and gender, hence the need to be media-literate so as not to fall for harmful, exploitative or false messages. There is a need to protect your mind and practise independent thinking.

Social Media 📱

This is a form of media that allows you to communicate and stay connected with family and friends while keeping up with the latest news and happenings around the world. It includes platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Tiktok etc. However, there is a need to exercise caution when using social media because not everyone is necessarily who they say they are.

Digital footprint – wondering what that is? So you know how you walk and leave footprints along your path, yes! It also happens with your use of the internet. Maybe you have even heard the saying “the internet never forgets”

Digital footprints simply describe the entirety of what you post online including your photos and status updates.

Preventing and Addressing Social Media Bullying

Cyberbullying is a growing concern, and it can happen to anyone. It’s the act of using digital platforms to intimidate, harass, or embarrass someone.

Recognise the Signs: These can include receiving hurtful messages, being excluded from online groups, or having rumours spread about you.

Take Action: Don’t retaliate or respond. Save the evidence, adjust your privacy settings, report the bully to the platform, and talk to someone you trust.
Offer a Helping Hand: If you see someone else being bullied, reach out and offer support. Encourage them to follow the steps above.

Combating Online Addiction 📵

The lure of the internet can be strong, leading to excessive use that affects your daily life.

Set Boundaries: Allocate specific times for internet use and stick to them.
Engage in Offline Activities: Balance online interactions with real-life activities. Join a sports team, volunteer, or learn a new skill.
Quality Over Quantity: Focus on meaningful online activities. Spend less time aimlessly scrolling and more on hobbies and interests. You can also learn online. An example is this content you are reading, watching or listening to now.

Preventing Revenge Pornography

Revenge pornography involves sharing explicit images or videos of someone without their consent, often to cause embarrassment or distress. Revenge pornography is what happens when a boyfriend or girlfriend decides to share a picture of you naked that was taken with or without your consent while the relationship was good.

Never Share Sensitive Content: No matter how much you trust someone, sharing intimate photos can lead to serious consequences if they fall into the wrong hands. If you ever have to share, make sure your birth marks, fingers or any part of your body easily recognisable is not in the picture or video you are sharing;
Know Your Rights: If you or someone you know has been a victim, it’s not only a breach of privacy but also a criminal offence in many jurisdictions.
Seek Help: If you find yourself in such a situation, reach out to organisations that offer support and assistance in removing the content and taking legal action if necessary. Remember Nigeria also has a law against Cyberbullying. It is called the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015. Section 24 of the Act provides thus; (a) Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent;… commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than 7 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Section 170 of the Criminal Code Act and also Section 463 of Penal Code addresses these issues.

How can you ensure your safety online? ✅

Think about what you are posting, and who has access to it. Consider what your followers and friends need to know, and what detail is unnecessary.
Know how to manage the security and privacy settings of your accounts so that your personal information remains inaccessible to anyone but you. Criminals can use publicly available information to steal your identity.
Take a moment to check if you know the person you are connecting with and if the friend/link/follow is genuine. Always look before you click and if you’re not sure if it’s spam, contact the person another way to confirm.
Report harassment or inappropriate contents such as sexual harassment and abuse directly to the provider of the social media platform and speak to a trusted adult on the issue.
Know how to report, filter or block contents that do not align with your values.
Use strong passwords for your accounts and update them frequently. Instead of passwords, you also use passphrases. For instance your passphrase can be ‘I am in Part 2” instead of “Iaminpart2”.

Glossary words and their meanings

Exploitative: taking advantage of a person or group, often in an unfair or unethical way.

LIFE SKILLS FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING