Gathering in parliament focuses on safe internet

Gathering in parliament focuses on safe internet

This year's event's theme was "creating a better internet together." State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications Tatjana Matić said that only one click is sufficient to reach a wealth of new information.

"Your knowledge of the internet goes far above the knowledge of your parents and teachers. The internet is a huge world of possibilities and the most important is to play, to acquire new knowledge, to learn, and to learn something new, the whole world is available to you and you are just one click away from millions of new information", she told the students.

Matić explained that last year more than 10 million participants and more than 10,000 schools around the world supported the event, and in a statement to reporters said that this campaign was launched in 2008 by the appropriate ministry.

The event, she added, has grown into an international project supported by the European Commission. The Ministry of Telecommunications and Education, as well as the B92 Fund, participate in the Safer Internet program. Chairman of the Board of B92 Veran Matić also addressed the conference.

"I would like to inform you with pleasure that we opened the site Net Patrol, where you can anonymously report if someone bothers you, or if you encounter any content that is in any way disturbing and inappropriate. A trained operator reviews all reports, and acting in line with the procedure, eliminate the inappropriate material."

Besides Net Patrol, in some ten days's time a completely redesigned website www.kliknibezedno.rs will be launched, where visitors will be able to find all the advice on how to protect themselves and how to avoid disturbing situations online.

"You must be aware that you influence the rules and behavior on the internet. Kindness is contagious, and by behaving towards others as we want others to treat us, we are creating a positive vicious circle directly impacting the relations on the internet. You need to be aware of what the long-term consequences of recklessness are, that people get fired because of posts on social networks. In fact, employers check profiles of job candidates on social networks, and in that sense it is very important what you post," Matić told the students, and added:

"The most important thing you need to guard is your personal data, such as, for example, the address where you live. Such information is not shared on the internet with anyone. The reason for this is that you never know who and how can misuse that information. For example, if you announce that you go on vacation with the whole family, and at the same time you have already put pictures of the house, write where you live, the thieves, since they know all this information, will be able to carefully and meticulously prepare robbery.

You must be careful when accepting friend requests because you can never know who is on the other side. You should never go to meet with someone you met on the internet on your own. If you, however, are very eager to get to know someone, then you should be sure to take your parents with you, and then the location of the meeting should be in a public place where there are a lot of people." Safe Internet Day is celebrated every second Tuesday in February, around the world, and this year's slogan was, "Let's Create a Better Internet Together". Serbia marked the day for the third time, and other than in Belgrade, a series of events were also held in the streets, shopping centers and schools in Niš, Kragujevac, Novi Sad and Zaječar.

The Safer Internet Center "Click Safely" was founded in January 2013.The aim of the Center is to raise awareness and provide educational activities in primary and secondary schools in Serbia for students aged 11 to 17, their parents, teachers and school psychologists, as well as providing relevant information on the safe use of the internet and ICT to the public in Serbia.

Another important segment of the Center, besides educational activities, is the electronic mechanism for reporting illegal and harmful content, Net Patrol, while the implementation of the Center's activities are directed and improved by the Advisory Board and the Children's Council.