YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Safer Internet Month launched on February 9 at the Yerevan secondary and high school after Chekhov. The initiative is timed to the Safer Internet Day 2010 celebrated in more than 60 countries across the world, including 27 countries of the European Union. Safer Internet Day 2010 celebrates the theme "Think B4 U Post". In the frame of the Safer Internet Month Media Education Center in partnership with Microsoft Armenia, World Vision and Internet Society of Armenia will hold a series of seminars in Armenian secondary schools and public discussions, at higher educational institutions. The Safer Internet-Armenia program is developed now, the program will be aimed at raising public awareness about safe and responsible usage of the Internet and fighting illegal and obscene content on the world wide web. According to coordinator of Safer Internet initiative in Armenia, Narine Khachatryan, the global communication network opens new unprecedented opportunities for study and research. At the same time on-line activities are accompanied with a number of risks, as cyber-bullying, fishing, farming, Internet fraud and identity theft. The Internet hides numerous threats especially for children and youth. Internet addiction, aggressive behavior, social isolation, low grades at school: these can be consequences of excessive and uncontrolled use of the Internet by children. The rules of conduct in virtual networks are similar to the norms of behavior in usual real life, Microsoft Armenia Country Director Grigor Barseghyan said. One should follow these standards in order to effectively and positively use Internet resources. The company created a new "Computer Security and Personal Data Protection" manual. According to the Director of Media Education Center Haykaz Baghyan, a Safer Internet Armenia website has already been developed (www.saferinternet.nt.am) was developed with links to and a collection of teaching and learning resources devoted to e-safety and social networking. The web-site contains sections on blogs, chat rooms, social networks, file-sharing and filtering. It contains useful tips to parents, children, teenagers and teachers on safer and more responsible behavior on the web. Media Education Center examined more than 10 000 educational web- sites and created Directory of 3 000 safe links to educational sites. Currently, activities are underway to wider involve educational institutions, Armenian business community and local municipal authorities, as well as to raise public awareness. In the frame of the Safer Internet Program drawing/posters competitions for 5-8 year-old children and the quiz for 9-15 year olds are to be held focusing on this year theme "Think Be4 U Post". The competitions and the quiz will be finalized on April 9. The Safer Internet Month is timed to the World Safer Internet Day, celebrated on the first Tuesday since February 2004 by INSAFE with support of the European Commission. Expanding from year to year, this initiative brings together people to fight against illegal, harmful and obscene online content. Since 2004 European INSAFE network advocated safe and responsible usage of Internet and mobile technologies, empowering users to benefit from the positive aspects of internet whilst avoiding the potential risks.

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