UNICEF, Facebook join forces to make digital world safer for children in Bangladesh

UNICEF and Facebook have launched a year-long mass awareness campaign to protect children from the perils of the digital world and to increase their access to safe online content.

This was announced at an event organised at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre in Dhaka on Friday, according to a statement. 

The year-long campaign aims to reach about 25 million Bangladeshi children along with their parents and teachers to ensure children's internet protection from 'online risks' by elaborating the issues related to children's well-being in this digital era.

More than 10,000 students from more than 100 schools, teachers, parents, key policymakers, industry leaders, top 50 internet products from ICT industry, and two million online visitors participated in the event.

“The internet was designed for adults, but it is increasingly used by children and young people – and digital technology often affects their lives and futures. So, digital policies, practices, and products should better reflect children’s needs, perspectives and voices,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Bangladesh representative.

According to the ‘State of the World’s Children 2017: Children in a digital world’, lack of adequate knowledge about proper internet use increases children’s vulnerability to risks and harms, including misuse of their private information, access to harmful content, and cyberbullying.

The ubiquitous presence of mobile devices, the report notes, has made online access for many children less supervised -- and potentially more dangerous.