Cyber-Safety Awareness: Assisting Schools in Implementation Guidelines

Abstract

Technology is growing at a rapid rate and is becoming part of our daily lives. Information Communication Technology (ICT) has become an integrated fragment of who we are, what we do, and how we do it. With the constant increase in ICT devices, access to cyberspace, and online connectivity, we as cyber users are becoming dependent on cyberspace. Cyberspace is transforming the way we socialise, do work activities and find information. The advantages of cyberspace are enormous and improve all aspects of education, government and industries. However, with the advantages comes a wide spectrum of disadvantages, namely cyberattacks (threats and risks). Cyber users are vulnerable against cyberattacks (for example, theft and ransomware) and can become cyber victims if they do not have the necessary cyber-safety knowledge and skills. One group of cyber users that are seen as easy cyber victims are school learners. School learners are using cyberspace for education, socialising, communication and information gathering. School learners are exposed so cyber threats including cyber bullying, unappropriated material and social distancing, as their cyber-safety knowledge and skills have not been properly established. Schools learners require cyber-safety awareness skills and knowledge to become safe cyber users. Parents and schools must ensure that school learners obtain these awareness, knowledge and skills. However, many parents, teachers and schools do not know how to establish a cyber-safety environment for their learners. Schools are currently lacking a proper cyber-safety awareness culture to ensure that the learners are using the cyberspace safely. This research will focus on providing schools with easy to follow cyber-safety awareness guidelines on how to create and implement a cyber-safety culture. The proposed guidelines will assist schools to understand the needs of the learners and provide awareness, knowledge and skills regarding cyber-safety actions within cyberspace.