Safer Internet 2018 Program Launched in ARMENIA
On February 6, Safer Internet Day (SID), the Safer Internet 2018 six-month programme was launched in Armenia. The initiative aims to raise public awareness 
of the safe and effective use of the Internet and digital technologies, as well as to help create positive educational content online. The Safer Internet programme promotes digital literacy among both children and adults. This year’s Safer Internet Day theme is “Create, Connect and Share Respect: A Better Internet Starts with You.”
Safer Internet 2018 is being implemented by the STEM Center and the Internet Society, with support from Ucom and other partner organisations.
“As the fastest internet provider in Armenia, Ucom has emphasized the importance of using the Internet for self-education and personal development. The knowledge gained online can serve as a strong foundation for creating innovative solutions that will be highly important and widely applicable in the future,” said Hayk Yesayan, Director General of Ucom.
Between February and May, schools in Yerevan and the regions of Armenia, as well as colleges, will host open lessons on Internet safety and meetings with parents. During these sessions, issues related to the safe use of the Internet and other ICTs will be discussed, and relevant educational materials will be distributed. Over this period, around 100 schools across Yerevan and Armenia’s regions are expected to join the eSafety Label Programme.
As in previous years, two national competitions will be organised during the Safer Internet 2018 programme to promote key messages of Internet safety and showcase educational initiatives by schools in this field.
Workshops, school activities for young people, parents, and teachers, along with video materials, games, books, media content, and other events, will help raise public awareness of the safe and responsible use of the Internet and promote a better online environment for children. The Safer Internet Armenia 2018
programme also includes an educational component for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers.
As noted by Haykaz Baghyan, Director of the STEM Center, it is crucial to educate children about Internet safety from an early age, helping them understand what personal information is and how to apply security and privacy settings in their favorite games, apps, and tools. “Many children begin using the Internet at the age of six or even earlier. Children under 12 often do not yet have fully developed critical thinking skills to navigate the Internet, play online games, or learn safely. Therefore, parents, educators, and caregivers should be actively involved in their online activities. At a later stage, it is highly desirable to guide children towards educational activities, such as using computer applications that help develop creative skills and foster interdisciplinary thinking.”
More information about these programmes can be found on www.safe.am and www.stem.am. The Safer Internet programme is dedicated to Safer Internet Day, which has been celebrated since 2004 on the second Tuesday of February each year. Safer Internet Day is organised by the Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology, especially among children and young people. Each year, millions of people around the world unite on Safer Internet Day to inspire positive change, raise awareness of online safety issues, and participate in related events and activities. The aim of Safer Internet Day is not only to create a safer internet, but also a better internet, where everyone is empowered to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically, and creatively.
