PREVENTION OF DIGITAL VIOLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Keywords:
digital technology, digital violence, digital literacy, internet, educationAbstract
Rapid development of information technology makes life easier;
however, negative aspects of its influence can be recognized as well.
Using Internet provides series of opportunities for better
communication, higher quality education and great fun but involves a
lot of risk. Young people spend majority of their time using digital
technologies, therefore becoming key actors in creating good or bad
peer communication. The young/adolescents are also exposed to the
highest level of risk on the net because they have high level of
autonomy and independence, because Internet erases social brakes,
gives them fake feeling of safety and power, allows users say and do
things they couldn’t do in face-to-face communication. The young
have the feeling they aren’t responsible for that kind of behavior in a
way they would normally be responsible, they are sure that on the net
they won’t be judged by their looks; relations on the net seem safer
than real relations, there are nosocial boundaries; two lonely souls
can communicate without being watched. Among the most mentioned
risks are various forms of digital violence, from disturbing to most
severe forms of violence, exposure to inappropriate content, exposure
to political, economic and religious propaganda, disinformation,
privacy threat, soliciting gambling and illegal activities. One way of
protection on the net in order to prevent unwanted communication is
to educate students, parents and teachers about the risks of digital
technology and digital literacy.Parents consider that they are
sufficiently informed about what their children do online, but think
they need more information and education. The role of schools in
preventing digital violence is very important because it is the place
where children in an organized way spend most time during th e day.
The educational mission of school is to promote social relationships
with students, colleagues and parents, and educational task is to teach about the use of modern media and technology, with special emphasis on digital literacy. Therefore, the school and its employees have an extremely important role in the prevention of abuse of digital technology.
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