How to protect children on the Internet - recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union
How to protect children from threats in the digital space - the UN has developed recommendations to answer this question. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) presented “Guidelines for the Protection of the Child Online” in Geneva. ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao explained that leadership will help “preserve the well-being, integrity and safety of our children,” TASS reports.
Most Internet users are minors, they are especially vulnerable and can be exposed to “various types of dangers due to content, contacts and harmful online behavior,” the authors of the manual note.
The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Violence against Children, Najat Maalla Mjid, said that fraudsters and attackers are constantly developing new patterns and models of criminal acts, so protecting children should also “develop quickly or even faster.”
The guide is intended for a wide audience. The recommendations in it are designed taking into account different ages. So, the block for the youngest readers of the manual is brightly designed and written in an accessible language for them. Block for children under 9 years old is made in the form of stories and safety tips on the Internet. Children from 9 to 11 years old can get acquainted with information security in a textbook format, and a website has been created for teenagers.
There is also a section for parents and educators. It notes the importance of getting in touch with children and talks about various services on the Internet and in stores for smartphones. The section for adults also gives recommendations on how to control the use of means of payment by children. A separate specialized unit is designed for civil servants and workers from the communications industry.
