The 9th anniversary of the Safe Internet Service, provided by the Information Technologies and Communication Authority since 2011, was celebrated.
A workshop was organized under the auspices of the Information Technologies and Communication Authority as part of the 9th year of the "Safe Internet Service." The program 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, and guests.
In his opening speech, Deputy Minister Sayan drew attention to the fact that children and young people are exposed to cyberbullying through fear and perception operations conducted via social media, stating that the global transformation brought about by the increase in digital materials and the widespread access to them has brought problems that need to be solved alongside the opportunities it contains.
Pointing out that the exposure of children and young people to cyberbullying through fear and perception operations on social media is among these risks, Sayan said, "As a society, especially our youth, we should focus on producing positive content rather than just consuming content produced on the internet, and on turning the information we learn from the internet into products."
Deputy Minister Sayan: Pay Attention to Age Restrictions on Social Media Platforms
Sayan mentioned the studies conducted by the Ministry and BTK on safe internet, noting that the number of users of the free "Safe Internet Service" is increasing but has not yet reached the desired level. Emphasizing that parents have a great responsibility to prevent children from being affected by negative content on the internet, Sayan said, "We should develop a strong communication channel with our children, approach them like friends instead of being interrogative and judgmental. We need to pay attention to age restrictions on video watching, instant messaging, and social media platforms."
Sayan stated that not all responsibility can be placed on families, and that content providers and access providers should work with awareness of their social responsibilities.
Digital games, one of the areas where children spend the most time, were also on Sayan's agenda. Sayan said, "Digital games, which are an important part of software, are an area that needs to be emphasized as much as the internet. We are sensitive about locality and nationality here. While developing our children's coding skills, we want them to use Turkish, and to see technology as a tool based on our own values."
Emphasizing that coding education has become more than a need and a necessity, Sayan announced that BTK Academy has important studies in this regard and that 2,650 students were trained in various subjects this year.
President Karagözoğlu: We Classified Over 10 Million Domain Names
BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu stated that since the Safe Internet Service began, more than 10 million domain names have been classified by BTK. Noting that the number of subscribers opting for the Safe Internet Service is approaching 7 million, Karagözoğlu shared the information: "Since the Safe Internet Service was launched, primarily domain names accessed from Turkey have been classified by our institution—over 10 million domain names—and more than 3 million reports and objections submitted by citizens have been evaluated."
Karagözoğlu stated that in the last 3 years, with 560 events organized in schools across the country by BTK, approximately 105,000 students, teachers, and parents were trained on the "conscious, safe, and effective use of the internet," and said, "With the 'Safe Internet Center,' consisting of Awareness, Assistance, and Reporting Centers established in our institution in 2016, the awareness efforts carried out regarding the conscious and safe use of the internet have become more effective and efficient."
Following the speeches, the workshop began, where the duties of operators regarding the dissemination of the safe internet service, improving service delivery quality, informing and raising awareness among subscribers, and measures to ensure communication security would be discussed.