The Internet daily expands possibilities for creativity and communication. For most users, including children and teenagers, the Internet is a more familiar form of leisure and a huge area of research.

For children, home is becoming both private and public as one can communicate with the whole world without leaving their room. Many use their social media accounts to share information with loved ones, classmates, pen pals.

At the same time, one can unknowingly find dangerous content on the Internet, thus becoming a victim of violence, exploitation or bullying.

Today, the participants of the press conference in BELTA - specialists of the Center for Social, Educational and Ideological Work of the Academy of Education and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus spoke in more detail about the dangers and risks the Internet poses for children and teenagers, as well as about the correct behavior in it.

The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is taking comprehensive measures to prevent, stop and overcome the consequences of harm to minors committed using the Internet. The current prevention system includes all participants in the educational process.

"In education, the basics of information security are a necessary part of the educational process," emphasized Margarita Tovkes, Head of the Sector for Coordination and Methodological Support for the Prevention of Crimes and Offenses Among Students at the Center for Social, Educational and Ideological Work of the Academy of Education.

The speaker reported that to date, serious work has been carried out to adjust the curricula for academic subjects and disciplines containing information security issues.

For example, the content of "Computer Science" subject for 11th graders has the topic "Information Technologies in Society." The fact is that this topic addresses issues of safe existence in the modern information space and methods of ethical use of information resources: "Information Resources of Society. Information Systems. Information Technologies", "Information Culture. Information Society. Information Civilization", "Education and Professional Activity in the Information Society", "Cybersecurity. Cyber Resilience".

In addition, each topic includes articles related to information security and skills for safe existence in the modern information space.

As for the content of educational standards for all specialties of secondary specialized education, it has the topic "Information Technology", within the framework of it students will easily understand the methods of information protection.

Organizations accountable to the Ministry of Education post on their websites information materials on the prevention and counteraction of cybercrime.

At present, the education system uses various forms to establish an information culture of young people. A significant place is given to educational activities aimed at explaining to students the rules of behavior on the Internet and the use of Internet resources. For this purpose, information hours are held for them on computer security issues, including monthly events of the information and educational project "ШАГ" - School of Active Citizenship, where topics of competent use of Internet capabilities are also considered.

Margarita Tovkes is convinced that to protect children from the dangers of the Internet, parents must first and foremost take an active position: “Everything that teenagers can understand about the rules of behavior, relationships between people comes from the experience of interaction, first of all, with their own parents. An adult nearby is both an example for the child and an assistant in shaping the image of the world.”

Despite the benefits the Internet can give to children, one should not forget that there are only a limited number of hours in a day. If a teenager spends most of his free time surfing the Internet, then he has fewer opportunities for physical activity and other offline activities. As in every activity, it is important to know when to stop using the Internet. Otherwise, there will be problems with health, studies, and communication.