Cyber Wellness

About Cyber Wellness

The digital revolution – particularly the advancement of mobile and digital technologies - has changed the way media is used. The new environment presents risks and pitfalls, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the digital world.

Cyber wellness refers to the positive well-being of internet users and a healthy cyber culture for the Internet community. It involves an understanding of the risks of harmful online behaviour, an awareness of how to protect oneself and other Internet users from such behaviour, and a recognition of the power of the Internet to benefit oneself and the community at large.

To encourage and promote safe, responsible use of the Internet and healthy gaming, MDA advocates a holistic public outreach approach to educate not just youth, but also educators, parents and the general public to raise the awareness as well as impart essential coping skills in evaluating what they read, see and hear in the media.

MDA works closely with a number of partners from the public, people and private sectors to raise awareness on the core values of cyber wellness through various activities. In particular, MDA works closely with Inter-Ministry Cyber Wellness Steering Committee (ICSC) and Internet and Media Advisory Committee (INMAC) in identifying and facilitating key cyber wellness initiatives.

Inter-Ministry Cyber Wellness Steering Committee (ICSC)

Formed in February 2009, the ICSC comprises of representative members from MICA, MOE, MCYS, MINDEF, MHA, IDA as well as MDA. Focusing on public education, ICSC works on improving coordination across the various government agencies and partners from the people-private sectors with regards to cyber wellness.

The ICSC recognises the importance of a multi-prong collaborative approach involving public-people-private sectors. To provide greater support to the community, ICSC has launched a call for proposals on 30 November 2009. Successful proposals will receive a co-funding support from ICSC, through the $10 million fund which has been set aside for the scheme over the next five years

Internet and Media Advisory Committee (INMAC)

The INMAC comprises from representatives from industry and people sectors such as Hewlett Packard, SingTel, MediaCorp, StarHub, Nokia as well as TOUCH Community Services and Fei Yue Community Services. The members are active in the facilitation and promotion of media literacy and cyber wellness public education programmes.

In addition, INMAC is also an advisory and consultative council that works closely with MDA and ICSC on key issues pertaining to media literacy, cyber wellness and related policies, issues and programmes.

Once Upon A Cyberspace

New media is becoming an inseparable part of the everyday lives of youth in Singapore. To raise the awareness on the importance of Internet safety among youth between the ages of 10 and 14 – and their families – MDA commissioned a special programme Once Upon A Cyberspace.

The 3D animated series ran as six 1-minute interstitials on MediaCorp’s okto channel for six running weeks at the beginning of April 2009, highlighting situations where discerning and responsible use of new media and Internet should be cultivated. The series covered the following issues:

· Cyber-bullying

· Game addiction

· Dangers of sharing personal information online (for example, in chat rooms), online socialisation (for example, making new friends via chat rooms)

· Invasion of privacy

· Internet viruses

Thoughts: After reading this,I feel that people should stop cyber-bullying.
Source: http://www.mda.gov.sg/Public/Pages/CyberWellness.aspx

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