Safer Internet Day is commemorated each year with the aim of raising awareness and ensuring online safety for all especially children and young adults. This year the Authority in partnership with mHub, YONECO, Airtel,TNM and the Malawi Police Service are conducting school outreach programmes targeting school going children.
The programme which was conducted in Blantyre, Zomba and Mangochi aims at creating a platform where children and young adults can discuss pertinent issues on online safety and how the key stakeholders can ensure a safe digital space for them.
This year the theme “let’s talk about, making space for conversations about online safety” is at the heart of the programme and the activities carried out include in-depth discussions on how issues of cyber harassment, online fraud, child trafficking and phishing can be mitigated.
speaking during the event MACRA’s deputy director of consumer affairs Kelious Mlenga encouraged the students to be SMART online, and be responsible digital citizens.
Among the issues raised during the discussion were issues of cyber bullying and harassment and the mental health issues that arise as a result, online fraud, addiction, misinformation and fake news.
The schools which participated include Zingwagwa primary and secondary schools, Chichiri primary and secondary schools and NACIT for Blantyre, Zomba CCAP primary school, Zomba catholic secondary and Mponda primary school for Zomba and DMI and Mangochi secondary school for Mangochi.