On the occasion of the Safer Internet Day 2022, Antonio Affinita, general manager of MOIGE (Italian Parents Movement), kicked off today, in connection with over 50 educational institutions, the VI edition of the project “Young Ambassadors for digital citizenship against bullying and cyber risk“, Promoted in collaboration with State Police, and with ”A blue knot” of MIUR, Anci (National Association of Italian Municipalities) and realized thanks to the contribution of Enel Italia Spa, Vodafone Italia, Trend Micro Italia and Nexi. Furthermore, the survey data made byPiepoli Institute on the topic: ‘’Cyber-risk e pandemia’’.
The first relevant data emerged from the research, carried out on the parents on arguments about the use of digital technology by minors during the period of the Covid emergency, and illustrated by the vice president of the Institute, Livio Gigliuto, is that, since the pandemic emergency broke out (excluding the commitment for the DAD) the time spent in front of technological devices increased by 67% (+ 48% in the north west; + 71% in the north east; + 71% in the center; + 74% in the south; + 76% in the islands). Other significant data emerged is that of consequences due to the increase in the use of digital technology on social relations among children and adolescents, 87% of parents experienced adverse effects about their boys, the 52% reported loss of physical contact with the others. At the territorial level the young people of the islands they have more resentful of the increase in device use, even the 94% of the respondents found the negative effects. The 77%, however, acknowledges that the use of devices compensated for the lack of relationships helping children to cope with forced closure and thus maintain social relationships. Bucking a positive figure 40% of parents pointed out that he spent a lot of time with his children, conversing a lot.
The project: countryside on cyberbullying and other dangers of the web it has involved 587,500 parents so far, 325,000 students e 11,500 teachers on the issues of bullying and web security. Furthermore, it was created a national network beyond 1,200 schools e 5.500 “Young ambassadors“, lads chosen by the teachers for theirs particular attitudes and sensitivities and formats to “train” their peers.
The initiative, this year, will involve additional 250 primary and secondary schools I and II degree in about 200 municipalities from all over Italy, 62,500 students, 1,250 Young Ambassadors, 1,250 teachers trained via online platform and school meetings e 125,000 parents of students informed through the dedicated teaching material, with the goal of spreading a digital culture focusing onimportance of correct use of social media, of the network as well as on the risks associated with improper use of new technologies and promote a greater awareness of cyber risks. Furthermore, we want to support the young people inacquisition of skills for a constructive management of interpersonal conflicts, provide families with a aware digital training per face the dangers of the web with more awareness and responsibility, counteract the phenomenon of fake news disseminating the tools for identifying the correct information sources and informing the public for counteract transmission, even involuntary, of deviant behavior towards minors.
I 250 school complexes will receive educational and training kits on web space with contents written by the task of Moige psychologists and expert pedagogists. A whatsapp number 393 300 90 90 and a toll-free number 800 93 70 70 are also active. Students will be protagonists in the front line to promote the correct use of the web. The lecturer in charge of the project will choose 5 or more students which, after having trained on the platform will become “Young Ambassadors” to pass on their knowledge to their peers through the peer to peer education. Furthermore, the Task Force of experts of the Moige mobile prevention center, if allowed by the anti Covid 19 legislation, will reach some of the schools in complete safety to carry out, in the morning, meetings with students in the classroom, assisted by the project teacher, to create moments of analysis and reflection on the correct use of device and gods social network. In the afternoon, however, training sessions with parents and teachers. To integrate the offer, the digital mobile center is also available to schools, a platform with contents made by industry experts who can be active and reachable at any time.
They took part in the presentation of the project, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economic Development, Elena Bonetti, Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Family, Rossano Sasso, Undersecretary of Education, Francesco Profumo, former minister of education and president of ACRI, Carla Garlatti, the supervisory authority for children and adolescents, Geneva Cerrina Feroni, vice president of privacy guarantor, Enzo Bianco, president of the ANCI national council, Barbara Torn, director of the first division of the Postal Police and communications service, Sandra Cioffi, cnu president at AGCOM, Luca Bernardo, director of the national cyberbullying coordination center, Gianluca Pasquali, director of consumer business unit Vodafone Italy, Fabrizio Iaccarino, head of sustainability and institutional affairs of Enel Italia, Lorenzo Malagola, head institutional affairs Nexi, Gastone Nencini, country manager Italy – Trend Micro, Giovanna Paladino, director and curator of the Savings Museum, Sarah Varetto, director of sustainability and Sky communication.
Coordinated by Elisabetta Scala, vice president Moige, have brought a greeting to the boys i testimonial of the project: Milly Carlucci, William Mariotto, Beppe Fiorello, Eleonora Daniele, Alessio Strazzullo e Riccardo Betteghella (Casa Surace), Davide Nonino e Edward Mecca.