Online Safety Concerns Emerge: Parents Clueless About Kids’ Online Activities
A recent study has revealed some alarming statistics about children’s online activities, highlighting a lack of parental awareness and supervision.
Unmonitored Online Behavior
The study surveyed over 12,000 middle school students and found that:
- 78% of children feel unmonitored while watching videos online
- 58% and 57% respectively feel the same way about using social networks and texting apps
- A staggering 16% have met someone they only knew online in real life
These findings suggest that parents are often unaware of their kids’ online activities, leaving them vulnerable to online threats.
Legislative Gaps Hamper Online Child Safety
The Albanian legislation on child sexual abuse has been found to be fragmented, lacking clear definitions related to child sexual abuse and exploitation. This legislative gap has hindered efforts to protect children online.
Cybersecurity Education: A Necessity for a Safer Digital Space
The study also highlights the need for cybersecurity education in Albania. Currently, there is a shortage of trained professionals in this field, with many universities offering programs that are still in their early stages. The lack of research initiatives and inadequate curricula has resulted in insufficient knowledge among students to meet labor market demands.
National Cybersecurity Strategy Aims to Ensure Online Safety
To address these concerns, the Albanian government has developed a National Cybersecurity Strategy, which aims to:
- Ensure cybersecurity at the national level
- Establish a safe cyber space
- Develop professional capacities
- Improve national and international cooperation
The strategy includes specific objectives, such as guaranteeing cybersecurity through interactive institutional mechanisms, legal and technical instruments, and critical cyber space protection elements.
Monitoring Progress
The success of the National Cybersecurity Strategy will be monitored by tracking core indicators defined in the indicator Passport annex. The indicators will serve as a roadmap for strategy implementation monitoring and track achievement of specific objectives translated into a detailed action plan.
Conclusion
As concerns about online safety continue to grow, it is crucial that parents, educators, and policymakers work together to ensure that children are protected from online threats and can benefit from the advantages of information technology while overcoming development challenges.