The Internet has brought about a revolutionary change in the course of history. This has resulted in a persuasive change in communication throughout the world in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The internet has made Marshall McLuhan’s theory of the global village more robust and relevant to the contemporary youth generations.
Since the commencement of the ARPANET in 1969 and MILNET in 1983, the internet came to light with a breakthrough changeover. Subsequently, the reality of the World Wide Web and its further progression, based on Google, YouTube, blog-sites, websites, and social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter during the 1990s and 2000s have been at the epicentre of all media communication around the world.
Consequently, the last decade endured a hybrid transition in media communication; conventional media has been dependent on the internet. This has given rise to a vigorous course of the “new media” phase which has confounded the world with a flow of information revolution and technological advancement.
Bangladesh is also part of this; this has resulted in a far-extended diversion in not only the socialization process of the youth but also in all aged people from all sectors. All of this points to an issue not associated with the use of the internet but rather, the use of safe internet. This menace excludes nobody; most lack the competency of factor-authentication and verifying information online -- whether it is misinformation, propaganda, bullying, or exploitation.
For internet and social media experts, safe internet encompasses all the measurements using which a user can protect himself/herself from all the negative consequences of the virtual world or the overall internet. In short, the concept of a safe internet is concerned with making users more sentient and averting them from using it recklessly.
To this respect, the question arises -- are all of us wary of the grim pitfalls of the internet?
According to a Unicef study, approximately 32% of Bangladeshi children, aged 10-17, are acquainted and experienced with online violence, harassment, and cyber-bullying. Besides, in a survey by Telenor Group and Grameenphone, it appeared that 85% of Bangladeshi youths found online bullying as a major issue. This survey also showed 18% of them faced graver bullying after the Covid-19 outbreak. Also, in an investigation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Division found 80% of the victims, in online harassment and bullying, are women aged 14-22.
As a consequence, awareness concerns have evolved as one of the most relevant matters to be scrutinized with a wide range of discussion and policy implementation. The initiative of the ICT Division under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology collaborating with Unicef has taken many measures to make children aware of safe internet.
Along with governmental measurements, many NGOs have begun their actions on making mass awareness among the children and overall netizens. Unicef is playing an active role in building awareness through field work and advertisements, while the activities of Bangladesh- Save the Children and Youth Policy Forum are also catching the eyes of policy-makers regarding this issue.
In a virtual world deluged by bullying, harassment, irreverent information, propaganda, and fake news, clarity and safety are power. Ergo, to make this virtual world safer and more comfortable for all aged people, especially for the youth, is our prime commitment now.
Alongside the government and NGOs, every one of us has duties to make ourselves, our families, and society safe from the dangers posed by the internet. As responsible patriots of Bangladesh, in this Industry 4.0 era, we must keep our country safer and healthier in the digital world by making the internet more comfortable and sound to all of us.
Kawsar Uddin Mahmud is a freelance contributor. Email: kawsarduir@gmail.com