"SAFER INTERNET PROGRAM" LAUNCHED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.02.2010 21:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Safer Internet" month-long program launched today
at the Yerevan school named after Chekhov. This year celebrations are
taking in more than 60 countries on all 5 continents across the world,
including all 27 countries of the European Union. Safer Internet
Day 2010 celebrates the theme "Think B4 U Post". Since 2004 European
INSAFE network advocated safe and responsible usage of Internet and
mobile technologies, empowering users to benefit from the positive
aspects of internet whilst avoiding the potential risks.

In the frame of the Safer Internet program Media Education Center in
partnership with Microsoft Armenia, World Vision and Internet Society
of Armenia will hold a series of seminars and public discussions.

Safer Internet Program is aimed at raising public awareness about safe
and responsible usage of the Internet and fighting illegal content.

According to coordinator of the Safer Internet program in Armenia,
Narine Khachatryan, born in an information revolution era this highway
of knowledge provides unprecedented and unlimited possibilities
for study and research. At the same time, the global communication
network, where everyone has access, hides multiple threats especially
for children and youth.

The laws in virtual networks are similar to the norms of behavior
in real life, Microsoft Armenia director Grigor Barseghyan said. And
therefore, adherence to these standards can help to effectively use
Internet resources.

According to the director of Media Education Center Haykaz Baghyan,
a new website was developed with links to and
a collection of teaching and learning resources devoted to e-safety and
social networking. The web-site contains sections on blogs, chat rooms,
social networks, file-sharing and filtering. Armenian users can read
about Internet-related risks, such as cyber-bulling, fishing, farming,
Internet fraud and identity theft. It contains useful tips to parents,
children, teenagers and teachers on safer and more responsible behavior
on the web. Media education Center examined more than 10 000 web-
sites and created "Internet safety zone" containing 3 000 links to
educational sites.

The Safer Internet monthly program is timed to the World Safer Internet
Day, celebrated on the first Tuesday since February 2004 by INSAFE
with support of the European Commission. Expanding from year to year,
this initiative brings together people to fight against illegal,
harmful and obscene online content.