Child Online Safety Concerns

Childline — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:34:27 +0000

A recent global survey The Child Online Safety Index (COSI) ranked Thailand last out of 30 countries selected for the research project. The study, conducted over 3 years collected data from 145,426 children and collated scores based on a wide range of online activity and metrics. The country fell particularly short in the Cyber Risks and Digital Competency categories, scoring the lowest points on the list for Cyberbullying, Critical Thinking and Privacy Management.

Cyber Risks, for example, received a score of 3 out of a possible 100. This category included Cyber Threats, a measure that “exposes risks such as phishing or hacking based on a percentage of children and adolescents who experienced cyber threats”.

Childline Thailand director Ilya Smirnoff said “The 2020 COSI report is very concerning, right now children in Thailand are experiencing an online pandemic and are at a high risk from cyber threats. Childline Thailand are working on projects to educate youths about online safety but the scale of the problem is vast”

The research was conducted by international think-tank The DQ Institute and the data it publishes is a real-time measure for each country’s child online safety. COSI will be automatically updated as the countries progress with their child online safety and digital citizenship initiatives and the results help to identify priorities for improvement. According to Dr Yuhyun Park, Founder of the DQ Institute “The Child Online Safety Index should serve as a wakeup call to everyone about the safety of the world’s children online.”

All of us have a responsibility use technology responsibly and protect our children. The COSI report should be a catalyst for change.

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New Challenges for Charities during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Childline — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 05:43:32 +0000

The unprecedented Coronavirus outbreak has shocked the world and everyone has been forced to make rapid adjustments to their lives. All areas of society are adapting to the new circumstances and charities are no exception. Covid-19 has put additional pressure on organisations offering mental health support. There has been a sharp global increase in calls to helplines; in Canada the Kids Help Phone foundation recorded a 70% surge in calls and texts, with many children worried about the virus and struggling with isolation. Childline in the UK has seen a “sharp rise in the number of calls” whilst in India the Childline Helpline received 92,000 SOS calls in 11 days, mostly from children requesting protection from abuse and violence.

Meanwhile in Thailand, the Child Rights Coalition surveyed 28 member charities and found that many were deeply concerned about the social and economic impact of Covid19. Childline Thailand runs a call centre that normally averages approximately 600 calls and messages each month. In the days after the lockdown begun in April the centre has so far counselled 1195 children (1st- 21st April 2020). For a small charity this increase has put additional pressure on staff and funding and the foundation doesn’t receive any government support.

Childline Thailand’s centre for children in street situations (ศูนย์เดอะฮับสายเด็ก) has also seen a rise in demand for its services, with more children visiting the centre for support. In response the charity created an emergency appeal to provide Survival Boxes to homeless children which contain masks, soap and gel. The Hub also provides daily meals, showers and mental health support for 110 youths.

In times of crisis it’s really important to know that “there is someone there that cares” Childline and the Hub that “someone” for children. We care, we are there 24/7, and we are are always ready to help.

CTF Director Ilya Smirnoff

Whilst life has been inconvenienced for most of us, it is the most vulnerable members of society that will suffer the most. Childline helplines around the world provide a free service to millions of children and they require support to remain viable.

Please donate to Childline Thailand’s Covid-19 campaign https://childlinethailand.org/survival-box/

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The post New Challenges for Charities during the Covid-19 Pandemic appeared first on Childline Thailand.

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Child Online Safety Concerns

New Challenges for Charities during the Covid-19 Pandemic