Safe Surfing on the Internet

Online, our gestures, tone of voice, and jokes aren’t conveyed at all. When we talk to friends or strangers online, miscommunications happen. On the web, we just get text or a stylized photo – which means that we can’t fully assess others’ aims. It leads to situations where we misunderstand each other.

I might fail to word my thoughts right or read something in a hurry –misunderstand it, and get provoked. Maybe we should all grasp the reality that there are people on the other side. We need to show the same respect as we do in person.

Someturva CEO and social media researcher Suvi Uski talks about the safety skills needed on social media and gives tips on what youths can do when they come across unpleasant behavior or harassment on the web.

When we look at traditional bullying and modern bullying at school – which also takes place on social media, we notice that we are talking of – different types of phenomena. A significant change in bullying is that when something goes online – that content is never fully off the web.

A person’s digital identity or footprint is long-lasting. When the visible identity is attacked somehow – the person’s long history and even future are also under attack. Things that can be attached to your name can be found on Google later.

Tell your child that

• if on the web, social media, or in games you see something unpleasant –hurtful, or something that feels wrong, talk to an adult.
• when you see sketchy stuff – or a friend under attack, report the issue on the platform.
• We should remember that there are people on the other side and we need to show the same respect as we do in person.