Internet doesn’t forgive or forget Google speaks on how to stay safe online (Exclusive)
– Google’s Policy and Government Relations Manager in West Africa speaks on the awareness of online safety among children
– The Nigeria Film Integrity Awards (HomeVida) in collaboration with Google, NFVCB commemorates the Safer Internet Day (SID) 2016 by training over 1,000 students
Google’s Policy and Government Relations Manager in West Africa, Mrs Titi Akinsanmi at the Safer Internet Day 2016
The Nigeria Film Integrity Awards (HomeVida) in collaboration with Google and National Film and Video Censorship Board (NFVCB) on Tuesday, February 9, commemorated the Safer Internet Day (SID) 2016.
Google’s Policy and Government Relations Manager in West Africa, Mrs Titi Akinsanmi in an interview with Naij.com said the aim of the event is to reach out to young internet users and share information with them on how they can enjoy the multiple benefits offered by the medium of the Internet, while at the same time, staying safe from harm and exposure to age-inappropriate content.
Read the interview below:
What is the whole concept of Safer Internet Day?
Internet is what is driving the 21st century in terms of technology ,a lot is happening it breaks boundaries opens up opportunities equals opportunites for people irrespective of your background but recognising that there is a great good that comes with the internet is also the fact that it comes with a lot of responsibility and it’s that aspect of responsibility that we then speak about being safe online or having a safer internet space where we can all be.
Safer internet has to do with getting people to understand and know how to be able to engage with website with people, with communities, how to behave, what to believe and what not to believe on the internet space as well.
Being the brain behind the project, what was your inspiration?
I got online in the late 90s and I realized that there was a whole series of generations completely disconnected from the internet and one of the first things I realized earlier on is the fact that was there is the policy aspect, there’s the capacity building aspect but even more importantly is the what they have joined together which are the end users and I realized that for us to be able to create change in people’s behaviour you need to be able to connect all those dots together.
READ ALSO: See how Google, NFVCB, policy makers train students for Safer Internet Day 2016
Queens College students in a group photograph with Titi Akinsanmi, Google’s Policy & Government Relations Manager
So the work we are doing with the National Video Film and Censors Board (NVFCB) is influencing policy but the other spectrum of it is actually then been able to enable end users, parents, teachers the whole spectrum of society to know how to be safe online, to know what practices to do. It is not about completely disengaging from the internet but rather been able to use it well.
In terms of been the brain behind it, I have just been able to identify various things people are doing and bring that together for us to be able to have a holistic approach.
One of the goals I hope to achieve from the Safer Internet day is to have the right regulatory environment in Nigeria that ensures that anyone who gets online can continue to innovate, have a really good experience using social media, using other technologies, but at the same time have enough self-regulation in place that ensures that those who then step out of this entire safe online can be caught in a right way.
What is your advice to the younger generation?
Stay safe online, the technology changes everything it gives you an opportunity to be the best you can be. I can tell you the internet has really changed my life it enabled me to be able shape my personal image, my career, everything I know has emerged out of the work I have done around information technology specifically around internet policy.
Know that the internet doesn’t forgive or forget but, it can open up a whole new world of opportunities to you like anything you can you can dream you can become if you are able to harness the power of technology.
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