COMMUNITY

CYBER WELLNESS AND ONLINE SAFETY

DMA

Internet and mobile apps have brought significant benefits to everyone, whether it is access to information, entertainment and learning, or just keeping in touch. However, the unintended consequences are the associated risks that children and youths are increasingly becoming vulnerable to – cyber bullying, device, social network or gaming addiction, loss of privacy and access to inappropriate content.

The Singtel Group recognises the significance as well as the possible consequences of this issue. Hence, we strive to play a proactive role in educating customers and promoting cyber wellness and online safety especially among vulnerable children and youth.SO2

PROVIDING INFORMATION TO PARENTS

In July 2014, we introduced notAnoobie, a cyber wellness mobile app designed specifically for parents to gain a deeper insight into the digital space that their children are engaging in – both the benefits and pitfalls. Parents can then be in a better position to guide their children to be safer citizens in the cyber world.

It was co-developed with TOUCH Cyber Wellness, a not-for-profit organisation that provides cyber wellness services to youths. Available in English and Chinese, notAnoobie contains useful information, tips and success stories on gaming, social media and device addiction, online privacy, cyber bullying and inappropriate content.

REACHING OUT TO YOUNG CHILDREN

In FY2015, we became a strategic partner of iZ HERO Lab, whose award winning educational programme iZ HERO teaches young children to navigate cyber space safely. We piloted the iZ HERO Challenge from July to November 2014. Assembly talks, classroom sessions and web-based activities were used in a fun and engaging way to teach more than 24,000 students in 62 primary schools about cyber risks.

CYBER WELLNESS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

In this digital age, children with special needs, especially the teenagers, can be quite social media-savvy and also face the same cyber pitfalls and dangers such as inappropriate content and cyber bullying. These children are equally susceptible to online stranger-danger situations, bullying and harassment. We believe that timely education can minimise risks and maximise the child’s development, especially for children with special needs.

In FY2015, we initiated the development of a cyber wellness curriculum for Special Education Schools in Singapore, targeting children with special needs. This involved conducting numerous engagement workshops with 120 teachers and counsellors from three of our STLF beneficiary schools. We plan to pilot this curriculum in the three schools in FY2016. More information on our cyber wellness programme can be found at info.singtel.com/cyberwellness.