Photo credit: US Navy

There’s little safe spaces left online, and to protect minors from cyber crooks, the UK government is integrating internet safety in primary schools in 2011.

As children become more exposed to the Internet, they also become easy targets of cyber crimes. And to address this, the UK Council on Child Internet Safety proposed that online safety lessons should be included in primary schools’ curriculum.

Based on the new proposals, online safety would be taught to all pupils from five years old as part of their personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE).
The lessons are part of the new government strategy called “Click Clever, Click Safe,” which will encourage children to follow the “Green Cross Code” by blocking and reporting inappropriate content.

“We must ensure that this virtual world is safe for our children just as we try to ensure that the real world is,” Prime Minister Gordon Brown was quoted by BBC News saying during the campaign’s launch.

“The internet is a wonderful and powerful tool that is changing the way we learn and the way we stay in touch,” Brown said, adding, “But unfortunately there are risks from those intent on exploiting its benefits.”

Also in line with the strategy is the “Zip it, Block it, Flag it” campaign, which will persuade minors not to share personal details on the Web, block unwanted messages on social networks and report any inappropriate behavior to authorities.

Dr. Tanya Byron, who spearheaded a review about inappropriate online material, said the Green Cross Code is about what the risks are online and what can be done to counter them.

“No one is saying it is scary stuff,” Byron said, adding, “It’s about the management of risk in the same way that we want children to understand and manage risk in the real world, in the offline world.”

“Eighteen percent of children have said they have come across inappropriate material. Its 18 percent too many but it’s not as big as people believe based on the scare stories and fear-mongering,” she also said.

Despite initial optimism, not everybody is as impressed with the move. Anastasia de Waal, of think tank Civitas, criticized the measures, saying it would “cover a lot with not much depth.”

“The curriculum is already massively overstretched,” Waal told BBC News, adding, “It’s difficult for teachers to fit everything in.”

Although it is intended to be used by schools, retailers and social networks, individual sites have the final say if they’re going to use it or not. Technology bigwigs like Google, Microsoft and Facebook have already promised they will support the campaign. (Grace R)

Source: BBC News