February 5 is Safer Internet Day, and the theme this year is all about making the internet better. So how can you go about doing that? It all starts with a bit of R to the E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means.
We all turn to the internet in some form, whether it’s to check and send emails, to talk to friends and family over social, to store our photos, to watch videos, listen to music, play games, or just use it to search for things.
But using the internet isn’t the same for everyone.
For some, using the internet can be a fearful experience, as individuals behind a computer can be difficult, intentionally so.
The internet should be a safe place, though, and that’s one reason why countries around the world support Safer Internet Day, an initiative to help make people aware of why we all need to be better online to keep the trolls at bay.
It all starts with a bit of respect, though Australia’s Office of the eSafety Commissioner suggests that there are four Rs that are necessary for online safety, covering the aforementioned respect (for the way you and others are treated), as well as responsibility, reasoning, and the resilience needed to not let internet aggression knock you down.
Online, these lessons can help make one a better netizen, also known as a digital citizen.
More so, they’re things that we all need to be aware of, ready to help stand up to cyberbullying to help make the net a safer place for all individuals.
That can start with how you treat people online, not engaging in any trolling or harassment, but also looking out for others, reporting would-be aggressors to the authorities when possible.
The internet can be safer for everyone, and it starts with every one of us.
