Teaching parents to protect their children online in Kazakhstan
In collaboration with UNICEF and its dedicated partners, Kazakhstan launched an educational campaign for parents on children’s online safety. The Committee for Children’s Rights Protection, under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education, the Information Security Committee of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry (MDDIAI), Kaspersky Lab, and UNICEF launched free master classes for parents on children’s online safety in five cities, holding the first master class on February 28, 2024 in Almaty, Kazinform News Agency learnt from UNICEF Kazakhstan.
According to the ‘Kazakhstan Kids Online’ study, a large portion of Kazakhstani children begin using the internet at or before the age of 5, which poses several challenges for children and caregivers regarding safety in the online space. The role of parents in providing a safe user experience is paramount for better protecting children online.
In total, the event is planned for five cities: Almaty, Turkestan, Aktau, Semey, and Kostanay.
Experts will teach parents about the potential dangers that children face on the internet daily and share methods for improving children’s safety online. In addition, experts will also discuss issues related to children’s mental health in connection with internet use, the importance of building trusting relationships between parents and children, and ‘life hacks’ for parents to increase their children’s online safety.
Event speakers will include Aibek Magauya, manager of Kaspersky Lab, Lidiya Beisembayeva, UNICEF consultant on child online safety and digital skills, and Erbolat Kalim, head of the cybersecurity development department of the MDDIAI.
The events are being held as part of the ongoing cooperation between Kaspersky Lab and UNICEF to promote online safety for young users. The workshops are also part of a larger effort to teach digital literacy to children and parents in Kazakhstan and contribute to the implementation of Kazakhstan’s Comprehensive Plan to Protect Children from Violence, Prevent Suicide and Ensure Their Rights and Well-Being for 2023-2025.
“Every day the world is becoming increasingly digital: technology is penetrating various areas of life. This highlights the need for users to develop digital literacy, which is one of the key aspects of online security. Educating parents is an initiative that promotes the protection of children and adults online. We are confident that this campaign will help children of all ages effectively resist cyber threats,” adds Nassymzhan Ospanova, Chairwoman of Kazakhstan’s Committee for Children Rights Protection.
“Today, mobile technology is an integral part of people’s lives, children’s in particular. According to a study* conducted by Kaspersky Lab, 21 per cent of Kazakh parents buy gadgets for their children when they turn 4. However, not all adults explain the basic rules of cyber literacy to young users. It is extremely important to do this, as a lack of knowledge in this area can have serious consequences for the safety of both children and their parents. For example, our survey showed that almost one in ten Kazakh parents (9 per cent) lost money as a result of a child’s mistake online,” comments Kairzhan Abdrakhmanov, government affairs manager at Kaspersky Lab.
“Every day, children go online to communicate with friends, watch videos and films, play online games, and educate themselves. Internet provides new opportunities for children to learn, communicate and share, however, if parents do not explain to their children the rules of online behavior, they risk encountering potential threats; for example, following a phishing link or becoming a victim of abuse or harassment. In turn, parents and teachers need to teach children the basics of online safety. UNICEF is glad to provide support to parents in this respect jointly with Kaspersky Lab, the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights, and the Information Security Committee. The role of the ICT industry in ensuring the well-being of children on the internet is integral, and we will continue to cooperate with the business sector in this area using international standards and best practices,” stated Laetitia Bazzi-Veil, Acting Representative of UNICEF in Kazakhstan.
*The survey was commissioned by Kaspersky Lab and conducted by the OnIn agency between December 2022–January 2023. More than 1,000 parents of children under the age of 18 from Kazakhstan responded to the survey.
