D I G I T A L   R I S K S   A N D  R E S I L I E N C E 

Blog Credit: Trupti Thakur

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D I G I T A L   R I S K S   A N D  R E S I L I E N C E

Empowering children to become active and ethical digital citizens requires building capacity to safely navigate the digital world. Digital environments bring enormous opportunity, but also risks. These digital risks can affect children’s well-being and undermine their right to privacy.

Education systems have an important role to play in ensuring that children are protected, and learn how to protect themselves, in the digital environment. Age- appropriate interventions must be adapted to children’s developing capacity and understanding of digital security and privacy.

5-7 years old

Have a sense of privacy rules but struggle to comprehend the consequences of their actions.

8-11 years old

Privacy is governed more by rules than internalised personality.

12-17 years old Aware of privacy risks, assess opportunities and risks but tend to focus on short-term

benefits when making a decision.

THE 4Cs:

CONTENT, CONDUCT, CONTACT AND CONTRACT RISKS

Typologies of risks include four broad categories: content, conduct, contract and contact. Many of these are digital versions of traditional risks for children (e.g., bullying, racism and sexism, sexual predation). Just as in everyday life, a zero-risk digital environment is unattainable.

However setting the conditions for a safer one is feasible.

HIGH PRIORITY RISK AREAS

All digital risks can be harmful to children. High-priority cyber risks across OECD countries include :

• Cyberbullying can be defined as the aggressive targeting of a victim using digital
• Many of the mechanisms driving cyberbullying are similar to traditional Bullies often target their victims both face-to-face and in digital environments.
• The anonymity of digital spaces and the possibility of reaching victims regardless of their physical location differentiate cyberbullying from traditional bullying .

 

• Sexting involves creating or sharing sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude
• Sexting is illegal if the subject is underage. In severe instances, it can lead to sextortion, where the subject is threatened with exposure if they do not pay a bribe or perform a desired
• Revenge porn refers to posting nude images without
• Both revenge porn and underage sexting are illegal in many countries.
• Digital activity generates trails of personal data which can be stored on
• Phishing for personal information, surveillance, industrial-scale data processing and behavioural advertising based on personal information are all risks for students.
• It is important to secure and protect children’s data and help them understand the importance of digital Era.

While all children who go online face digital risks, there are some factors that can affect their susceptibility. These include:

• vulnerability: those most at risk offline tend to also be more vulnerable online
• personality factors: sensation-seeking, low self-esteem, psychological difficulties
• social factors: lack of parental support and peer norms
• digital factors: specific digital practices, sites and

Digital resilience refers to having the ability to adjust positively when facing online adversity.

SYSTEM

• Target skills of both parents and children to increase their resilience and expand their opportunities. Restricting children’s exposure to digital media may decrease risks but also digital
• Train teachers on digital risks and their
• Foster a zero-tolerance culture to behaviours like cyberbullying.
• Introduce digital ethics and safety learning opportunities in the
• Offer spaces for adult and peer mentoring.
• Create interactive portals with safety tips for children, like the e-safety Kit.
• Create a space for youth to discuss and share ideas on online safety, like the

Blog By: Trupti Thakur