Vester Allé 24, 3.sal 8000 Aarhus C +45 86 370 400 info@cfdp.dk www.cfdp.dk
Aarhus November 20th, 2010
This document focuses on the need for redefining the way we communicate and work with child safety on the mobile phone platform - with a focus on youths at risk. Providing information and educational material is traditionally based on a one-sided learning philosophy, where we provide the information and the children/parents are responsible for adapting and utilising this information. However, a growing number of children do not benefit from, or respond to, this learning philosophy. We need to considers this in order to successfully reach all children and ensure better awareness and integration of safer mobile use. It is our belief and experience that especially children and young people should be met with dialogue and interaction. This presents us with wide-ranging challenges, as we need to get closer to the young people and find new ways of engaging with them. In Denmark we have a well established tradition of involving young people and fostering productive dialogue - also when it comes to raising awareness about proper mobile phone behaviour and web ethics. The Danish tradition has had a positive effect, and the majority of our young population use mobile phones and online services as positive extensions and a way to broaden their social, learning, and cultural possibilities. They show a high awareness in their use of mobile phones, and are generally able to deal with minor problems or otherwise seek advice. This target group is characterised by having social skills and supportive parents, whose moral and safety guidelines extend to their use of mobile phones and computers. Accepting and Identifying A Growing Number of Youth at Risk As a platform for online counselling, we are especially aware of the growing number of youth at risk with poor social skills, and without the necessary means and close adult relations to benefit from existing information campaigns or educational material. Characteristics of this target group: • They find ways around technical filters and limitations that the industry applies, and/or have access to alternative phones or computers. • Their parents lack the time or ability to fully help, guide or support them - they are left alone, also online. • They show the same, sometimes decidedly risk-seeking, behaviour online, as they do offline. • They are often part of subcultures that create their own rules/guidelines, and eschews even positive adult influence. • They are involved in a disproportional part of the negative and unsafe behaviour we are seeking to prevent. CfDP - Centre for Digital Youth Care is a socioeconomic company, which aims to ensure digital safety and well-being for children and young people.