Tamil Nadu Government Releases Handbook on Digital Safety for Female Students
Tamil Nadu School Education Department Releases Digital Safety Booklet for School-Going Girls
The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has released a comprehensive guidebook titled "Agal Vilakku" or "Guiding Light" to help school-going girls navigate the digital world safely. The booklet outlines ten golden rules for safe internet use, aimed at girls from classes IX to XII, to help them stay safe online and avoid cybercrimes.
The digital world, while offering numerous opportunities, also poses certain dangers. The booklet emphasizes this by stating that seemingly harmless online interactions can lead to serious consequences if personal information is shared carelessly.
The ten golden rules focus on privacy protection, cautious online behavior, timely reporting of incidents, and maintaining a healthy digital-life balance. Here's a summary of the rules:
- Never share personal details online: This includes sensitive information like your home address, phone number, or school details.
- Use strong, secure passwords: Passwords should be complex and unique, and never shared with others.
- Avoid suspicious links or downloads: Be wary of links or files that seem unusual or come from unknown sources.
- Report any online abuse or harassment without fear: If you encounter any form of online abuse or harassment, report it immediately to the authorities.
- Inform parents or teachers immediately if faced with cyber threats: If you encounter any cyber threats, it's important to inform your parents or teachers as soon as possible.
- Block and report offenders to authorities: If someone continues to harass or bully you online, block them and report them to the authorities.
- Be cautious about interactions on social media and instant messaging: Be careful about who you interact with online, and remember that not everyone is who they seem.
- Setting strict limits on screen time to avoid addiction: It's important to set boundaries for your screen time to avoid becoming addicted to your devices.
- Understanding that even seemingly harmless online chats can have serious consequences: Be aware that what you say online can have real-world consequences.
- Filing complaints via official cybercrime portals (like www.cybercrime.gov.in or helpline 1930): If you've been a victim of cybercrime, you can file a complaint through the official cybercrime portals or by calling 1930.
The guide also educates students on various forms of cybercrime, including cyberbullying, grooming, stalking, picture morphing, and mobile phone addiction. A story of a student whose health and academic performance deteriorated due to excessive use of social media at night is narrated to highlight the dangers of mobile phone addiction.
The School Education Department stresses the importance of prioritizing rest and setting boundaries for screen time to ensure a healthy digital-life balance. The awareness initiative covers mental, physical, social, and digital safety, delivered in six modules over six weeks under the "Agal Vilakku" scheme to promote a responsible and culturally grounded use of technology among girl students in Tamil Nadu.
The "Agal Vilakku" booklet, released by the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, not only educates girls about the safe use of technology but also stresses the importance of general news and education-and-self-development in promoting a healthy digital lifestyle. The booklet talks about various forms of cybercrime like cyberbullying, grooming, stalking, picture morphing, and mobile phone addiction, showing students how these issues can affect their health and academic performance. This initiative is part of the comprehensive "Agal Vilakku" scheme that aims to foster responsible and culturally grounded technology use among girl students in Tamil Nadu, thereby contributing to their overall growth and well-being.
