The Cyprus Internet Safety Centre - CYberSafety, which is coordinated by the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute (PIK) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth (MPEAN), informs about the danger of online challenges and the importance of the contribution of parents, regarding the safe use of online and digital technologies by children and young people, while providing useful advice.
Recently, more and more online challenges are emerging and multiplying rapidly, on social media (e.g., Tik Tok, Facebook), usually among children, teens and youth. Challenges with positive, charitable, funny or even amusing intent, but also challenges with frightening and potentially harmful intent, which endanger the physical and emotional well-being of children, adolescents and young people.
It is important to note that the Cyprus Internet Safety Centre - CYberSafety has been dealing, over time, with incidents in which children and adolescents receive messages from unknown online profiles to participate in online challenges and dangerous "online games". For this reason, the Cyprus Internet Safety Centre - CYberSafety stresses the importance of raising awareness of the challenges and risks involved. It is possible, on the internet, for abusers to invite children and adolescents, in the context of a tasteless prank, to engage in online challenges and dangerous "online "games", which may include disturbing or harmful content, endangering their physical and emotional well-being.
Age vulnerability, curiosity, peer pressure, the tendency to imitate, as well as a sense of belonging, taking into account the characteristics of the specific age period of children, adolescents and young people, play a decisive and reinforcing factor in exposure to such risks. It therefore becomes imperative and necessary, whether rumoured or a real challenge, to address it, not only as a specific and isolated 'phenomenon', but as part of a set of harmful behaviours and associated risks, which require constant awareness-raising and education.
The Cyprus Internet Safety Centre - CYberSafety invites parents to be in constant communication with their children regarding their online activities and to inform them of the relevant online risks. In addition, it recommends the discreet and very careful transfer of information (e.g., name of the challenge) and discussion of the phenomenon in the public sphere (e.g, Mass Media, Social Media), since the presentation and maintenance of relevant disturbing and/or frightening content may contribute to its further dissemination and is likely to disturb and upset children and adolescents and even stimulate their curiosity, taking into account the vulnerability of specific age groups.
As part of its work, the Cyprus Internet Safety Centre - CYberSafety, notes the following useful tips for children/adolescents and parents/guardians for preventing and dealing with online challenges.
Children/adolescents: What can you do?
- What you need to know about online challenges: There are online challenges with positive, charitable, funny and entertaining intent (e.g., ice bucket challenge), as well as challenges with scary and potentially harmful intent. It is a fact that, at times, it is possible for individuals on the internet to create fake content with the intent to cause fear and panic or to mobilize campaigns and challenges that may endanger your physical and emotional well-being.
- Before you decide to participate in an online challenge, do your research: It is important, before you decide to participate in an online challenge, to do your research about it and talk to an adult you trust about the challenge and any further questions or thoughts you may have.
- Talk to an adult you trust: If you are thinking about taking part in an online challenge, it is important to inform and discuss it first with parents or an adult you trust. Act safely: If you accept an invitation online to participate in dangerous "challenges", weird online games or even online discussions that make you feel uncomfortable, you should:
- Keep evidence (via screen shots),
- Report, via complaint reporting tools, the incident and evidence,
- Block the person (e.g. profile) or the number that is harassing you,
- Report, immediately, the incident to parents or an adult you trust,
- Call the Helpline and Complaint Line at 1480[/B] or the Cybercrime Unit[/B]
- It's okay to say NO: Talk about peer pressure: Many times your friends/friends and classmates may engage in such challenges and invite/encourage you to take part in them as well. It is important to know that it is okay to say NO to things that do not make you feel comfortable and that you have every right to decide for yourself.
Always remember that. [*]Seek help:If you become aware of any related incidents or that another child or teen is participating or planning to participate in dangerous online challenges, it is important to immediately tell someone/any adult you trust or call, free and anonymously, the Helpline and Complaint Hotline at 1480. [/LIST]
Parents: What should you do
- Stay calm and do your research
- Stay calm and do your research: When online challenges are reported by children or young people or appear in the media, it is important to ensure you have all the information you need to be able to inform and support your child effectively.
- Talk to your child: Start a conversation about the online challenges that may have piqued your child's interest, inform them about it and about the risks and challenges online in general.
- Avoid presenting disturbing or scary content: It is important to remember that even when something goes viral online, it does not mean that everyone has seen or heard about it. You can inform your child about the dangers of online challenges without showing examples or giving clear details. Instead, focus on basic tips and skills so that they are able to deal with any online danger and challenge. For example, talk about avoiding contact with unfamiliar and strange profiles, introduce reporting and blocking tools, encourage the possibility of contacting a trusted adult to allow the opportunity to resolve any questions or concerns.
- Avoid naming dangerous challenges: Labelling/naming a challenge can help to spread it further. Therefore, instead of focusing on a specific online meme, challenge or image, provide actionable advice in case anything happens online that worries, upsets or offends your child.
- Talk about effective coping practices: It is important to provide your child with strategies for dealing with such online content and online challenges and equip them with important skills.
Explain that:
- If he or she accepts an invitation online to participate in dangerous online "games," risky behaviors, or online conversations that make him or her feel uncomfortable, he or she should:
- Keep evidence (screenshots-screen shots),
- Report, via complaint reporting tools, the incident and evidence,
- Block the person (e.g. profile) or the harassing number,
- Report, immediately, the incident to you or an adult you trust,
- Call the Helpline and Complaint Line at 1480 or the Cybercrime Unit,
- Report the incident to you or an adult you trust,
- Call the Helpline and Complaint Line at 1480 or the Cybercrime Unit.
- If he or she is considering participating in an online challenge, ask your child to discuss it with you or another trusted adult first to get all the information possible. Many times challenges may seem harmless and start out innocently, however, they can lead to significant physical or emotional danger. If they become aware that another child or teen is participating or planning to participate in dangerous online challenges:
- Inform, immediately, an adult(s) or call the Helpline and Complaint Line at 1480
- or the Division of Cybercrime.
- Talk about peer pressure: One of the key issues raised about online challenges is that of peer pressure. Young people can sometimes deal with such challenges because it is what all their friends are doing or seem to be doing and saying "NO" can seem and be very difficult. Remind and explain that it is okay to say NO to things they don't feel comfortable with and emphasize that it is important for them to make their own personal choices.
- Support your child: If your child has seen disturbing or scary content, it is important to talk to them about the experience, support them and, if needed, help them for additional support.
In addition:
- In general, maintain good relationships with your child and develop quality communication so that they feel comfortable reporting their online activity (online friends, websites they visit, etc.) and potential online risks they face.
- Check his emotional well-being by investigating whether there is anything that is bothering him and making it emotionally difficult for him.
- Discreetly monitor their online activities and make them aware of online risks. Remember, however, to talk about the dangers of the internet, but without exaggerating the nature of the danger and the extent to which the internet itself is a dangerous environment.
- Do not hesitate to talk openly to your child about dangerous online games and challenges. Ask what he or she thinks and discuss it with him or her in a non-judgmental way.
- Pay attention to warning signs and, if you suspect your child is engaging or planning to engage in online challenges, call the Helpline and Complaint Line at 1480 immediately.
It is important to know that when it comes to challenges related to the use of online games and the internet in general, you are not alone.
You can call for immediate support at Helpline 1480 https:/www.cybersafety.cy/helpline and Complaint Line 1480 https:/www.cybersafety.cy/hotline, the Cyprus Internet Safety Centre - CYberSafety https:/www.cybersafety.cy/
For more information, rich educational and informative material you can visit the website https:/www.internetsafety.pi.ac.cy
(NΓ/EXP)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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