Parktown Girls learner Amani Hassan highlights the importance of safe online use for teens during cybersecurity awareness month.
Hassan said knowing how to be safe online is crucial.
“Cyber criminals and hackers are constantly looking for vulnerable victims to attack. It is important for online users to behave appropriately while using social media platforms and respect others’ online privacy and personal information.”
She added, “As a young online user, you need to keep building skills such as protecting your privacy, protecting your connection, being aware of what you click, and thinking carefully about what you post and send and who you send it to. These skills can help users identify and manage safe internet use.”
The Parktown Girls learner noted that the main threat to teenagers online is cyberbullying.
“Cyberbullying is when harassment or bullying takes place online, this type of bullying is especially difficult to deal with. Cyberbullying can consist of people spreading rumours about someone online, people sending threats to people, or receiving intentionally hurtful messages.”
Hassan encouraged teens who are being bullied to speak up.
“If you are a teen suffering from cyberbullying the first thing you should do is talk to someone you trust and report the upsetting messages and walk away or escalate with the relevant authorities. Teenagers that have been cyberbullied feel attacked everywhere, it affects them mentally, emotionally, and physically. Be a H.E.R.O: Help, Educate, Report and Overcome.”
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