The “Are You Up for Being an İnternot?” event, aimed at making children more conscious individuals regarding digital games, was held in Istanbul.
The event, launched to make children more conscious individuals in the online world, was attended by Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, President of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, Google executives, and guests.
Deputy Minister Sayan touched upon the importance of information and communication technologies in his speech. Drawing attention to the fact that the internet forms the main source and backbone of the world we define as information and communication technologies today, Sayan stated, “While our geographical and mental boundaries expand thanks to the internet, small and common worlds are also being established for people at the same time. Humanity can access information, opportunities, and ideas that it was not even aware of before in a rapid manner. Digital technologies represent a constantly renewing and transforming world alongside the many opportunities and benefits they offer. This world, which we call the ‘digital age,’ is one where Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and innovation are discussed. It is impossible to stay away from a technology with such prevalence and impact. The numbers confirm this as well. According to Internet World Stats data, 7 out of every 10 people in Turkey are active internet users. This figure is increasing every day with advancing technology.”
Deputy Minister Sayan: Ensuring Everyone's Access to Internet Services is a Must for Us
Touching upon the changes brought by the launch of 4.5G, Sayan said, “We are obliged to deliver these opportunities, technology, and chances equally to all our people while protecting their rights. By this, I mean all electronic communication services, including internet access provided at minimum standards in a previously determined quality, accessible to everyone, and at a reasonable price that everyone can afford. This issue has also been legally accepted as a universal service. Ensuring that all internet users, especially children and youth, can benefit from internet services under equal conditions domestically is a must for us in terms of equal opportunities.”
Drawing attention to the fact that while the internet facilitates human life, it also brings many risks, Sayan stated in his speech, “Two concepts emerge against these risky contents of the internet: ‘safe internet’ and ‘conscious internet.’ ‘Safe internet’ refers to the use of the internet by protecting individuals from unwanted harmful online content through technical means, while ‘conscious internet’ encompasses usage activities that not only reduce harm and risks but also increase the benefits and opportunities of the internet. The Safe Internet Service, developed by the BTK and offered to internet users free of charge and as an alternative access service by all internet service providers, is considered one of the most important projects implemented in Turkey under the name of ‘safe internet.’”
President Karagözoğlu: The Internet is Among the Indispensables of Our Age
BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu also emphasized that the internet is among the indispensables of our age. Conveying that the internet is used today for a different purpose than when it first entered our lives, Karagözoğlu said, “Undoubtedly, the internet has contributed to very significant developments in the field of communication and has become the starting point for innovation, growth, and new business models around the world. Our country has adapted to this development in the information sector without being forced. Internet and other electronic communication services can be provided uninterruptedly, quickly, and with high quality at every point in our country.”
Stating that one of the issues given importance along with internet infrastructure is the development of internet content and the safe use of the internet, Karagözoğlu said, “Since 2011, our Institution has started providing the Safe Internet Service (SIS). The SIS, developed to protect our citizens against harmful internet content, is a public service that is optional for subscribers, transparent, user-friendly, requires no software installation, interactive, and based on consumer satisfaction. The Safe Internet Service, which meets an important need of our people, is offered to subscribers free of charge by our internet service providers. As you know, as an Institution, we organize many activities, events, and training for the conscious and safe use of the internet, and we strive to convey this to all our citizens through innovative projects. Our latest technology-focused mobile safe internet truck is also visiting schools to meet with students. With activities such as safe internet use, robotic coding, and digital games organized in this truck, we ensure that students both have fun and learn.”
President Karagözoğlu: Children are Our Most Important Target Audience for Conscious Internet Use
President Karagözoğlu also shared the results of the field study conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education (MoNE), stating the following data: “We conducted a study on the conscious and safe use of the internet with 8,140 middle school students, 7,281 high school students, and 9,581 parents from 26 provinces nationwide. The study revealed that the time children and youth spend on social media, digital games, and the internet is increasing day by day. One out of every two middle school students has a WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram account. The usage rate of social media tools rises to 80% among high school students. Looking at TÜİK data, we see that the computer and internet usage rates among internet users, which were 56.6% and 66.8% respectively in 2017, reached 59.6% and 72.9% in 2018.”
Emphasizing that children are the most important target audience for conscious internet use, President Karagözoğlu provided information about the studies, saying, “In this context, in the ‘Don’t Be a Cyberbully! #thereisadifference’ awareness campaign conducted together with Samsung Turkey, 150 teachers were trained as trainers at our Institution with the support of the Ankara Provincial Directorate of National Education. Again, under the ‘I’m in Control Project’ carried out in collaboration with Habitat Association and Facebook, where our Institution is also a stakeholder; face-to-face local trainings are being organized in 30 provinces in Turkey by volunteer trainers to raise awareness on online safety. As BTK, regardless of whether they are private sector or public institutions, we take great pleasure in supporting the works done for safe internet and especially for our children, and in making all kinds of collaborations when necessary. The ‘internot’ event that brought us together today is one of these collaborations.”