Page 6 - Young Wise
P. 6

Meryem KABATAŞ


         SAFE INTERNET USE
        SAFE INTERNET USE
        SAFE INTERNET USE




        In Türkiye, the use of technology and the   Safe Internet Use includes basic rules
        Internet is increasing rapidly every year.   such as protecting personal information,
        According to reports by TÜİK, BTK, and We   staying away from harmful content,
        Are Social 2025, Türkiye’s population is close  and behaving respectfully in the    • Control the time you spend online;
        to 86 million, and the number of mobile   digital environment. Students should   too much use can cause physical and
        phone subscribers exceeds 99 million.  be especially careful when they need   psychological problems
                                         to communicate with people they   •  Think about your digital footprint; every
        Initially, studies addressed the nature
        of the Internet and its potential for   do not know. They should be aware   photo, comment, or video you share
        misuse. As technology advanced, Internet   of cyberbullying, should not click on   may appear again in the future
        information became more rapidly and   suspicious links, and should use privacy   •  Be aware of cyberbullying; if you receive
        easily accessible, increasing its appeal.   settings correctly.    disturbing messages, do not reply, block
        Consequently, research into Internet use   Also, the digital footprint we leave while   the person, and inform your family or
        expanded. These changes highlighted   using the Internet can affect our lives in   teacher
        that the Internet is not merely a technical   the long term. The photos we share, the   •  Develop the habit of checking
        resource but a significant element of daily   comments we write, and the websites we   information; remember that not all
        life, particularly in education. Accordingly,   visit can be permanent and may appear   information on the Internet is correct,
        greater attention has been paid to its   again in many areas of life in the future.   especially when doing homework
        impact on people, especially students.  For this reason, it is very important to
                                                                         •  Stay away from suspicious offers;
                                         think before sharing online and to produce
        The Internet and technology play                                   messages like “earn easy money” or “you
                                         correct and reliable content. In short,
        important roles in students’ educational                           won a gift” may be scams
                                         conscious and safe Internet use is necessary
        processes and in their social and emotional                      •  Avoid illegal content; pirate downloads,
                                         to protect both our present and our future.
        development. While they offer great                                hacking programs, or illegal websites
        opportunities, such as easy and rapid                              are both  risky and against the law.
                                          What Should We Pay Attention to for
        access to information, they also pose
                                                 Safe Internet Use?      •  Keep your location sharing off; sharing
        risks. For example, students can improve                           your location can put you at physical risk
        by taking online lessons, watching   •  Do not share personal information such
        educational videos, or using digital   as your address, phone number, or school   •  If you experience a negative situation,
        resources. On the other hand, excessive,   information with people you do not know  report it; if you see something that
                                                                           makes you uncomfortable, scared, or
        unconscious Internet use can lead to   •  Use strong passwords; choose
        negative consequences. Excessive and   passwords with letters, numbers, and   threatened, tell your family or teacher
        careless use of technology may negatively   symbols, and change them regularly  immediately
        affect students’ social and emotional   •  Prefer safe and reliable websites; avoid   •  Manage your time; balance school, social
        development.                       unknown or suspicious websites and use   life, and Internet use, and avoid staying in
                                                                           front of screens for a long time
        When these positive and negative effects   ‘https’ sites
                                                                         In this context, it is very important to
        are considered, controlling Internet use   •  Do not click on unknown links; links in
                                                                         use the Internet and technology in a
        becomes important. Instead of removing   emails, messages, or advertisements
                                                                         conscious, balanced, and purposeful way.
        it completely from our lives, it should be   may include harmful software
        used in a conscious and controlled way.   •  Be careful on social media; do not
        At this point, students need to have some   accept friend requests from people you   If we use it carefully, we can
        basic knowledge and skills to protect   do not know, and limit your posts  be more successful today
        themselves in the digital world. Here, an   •  Use antivirus programs to protect your   and be better prepared
        important step appears: Safe Internet Use.
                                           devices from harmful software            for the future.


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