Be Internet Awesome: Google’s initiative for kids’ online safety
Youngsters are the worst victims of cybercrimes and online malpractices. Cybersecurity is therefore a must to ensure safe internet experience for them. Tech giants all over the world are taking major initiatives to reduce cyber threats, especially for children. Google’s latest campaign, ‘Be Internet Awesome’ is one among them. Launched in the last week of August, this initiative aims to promote serious internet safety lessons among Indian kids. Google has joined hands with the Indian comic book publisher Amar Chitra Katha for this campaign. The programme will be available in eight Indian languages. Apart from this, Google has also launched an upgraded Google Safety Center in the same languages to bolster its online safety measures.
The 'Be Internet Awesome' programme comes with a fun and engaging interactive experience called 'Interland.’ Here, youngsters can participate in a series of games and learn how to protect valuable information online, challenge cyber bullies, and spot fake news. This game-based curriculum will be featured in Amar Chitra Katha's popular magazine across eight Indian languages, namely: Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Telegu, and Tamil.
The objectives behind the Be Internet Awesome programme include:
- Detecting frauds and threats to children’s safety.
- Handling misinformation related to children on the internet.
- Eradicating violent extremism subjected to children.
- Controlling phishing attacks and malware.
- Identifying, fighting and preventing all sorts of online harm to children.
- Giving young users complete control over their data.
- Ensuring children continue to learn and explore the digital world.
Google has also significantly upgraded its resources to further assist India’s Trust Safety teams by adding an increased number of product policy analysts, security specialists, and user trust experts to support the regional teams working on these vernacular languages. It has incorporated several advanced techniques to make the universal online space safer and strengthen Google’s global trust.
Additionally, Google India has dedicated itself to ensure that women have equal access to internet opportunity without fearing for their safety. By the end of this year, Google India’s mission is to successfully launch the safety centers in the eight languages that will serve as the one-stop destination to address topics like data security, privacy control and online protection.