Cyber Wellness refers to the positive well-being of internet users. It involves an understanding of the norms of appropriate, responsible behaviour with regard to technology use as well as knowledge, skills, values and attitudes on how to protect oneself and other internet users in the cyber world.” – MOE Singapore
Today, people of all ages are online. Most of the time, we heavily rely first-hand information on the Internet. It changes information gathering from books, newspaper publications, television newscast, and radio news into blogs and articles that can be found on different websites. Sharing of information also became easier and faster through social media. You can now share articles or blogs from different sources with just a click on the share button.
In the past, sharing your thoughts to a large audience may require you to be published in newspapers or magazines. But now, you can create and publish your articles online through blogs or news articles on your own website or social media accounts. However, with too much information found on the internet, we are not sure if these contents are original or authentic.
In a recent report in The Straits Times, owners of a socio-political website were charged of sedition for creating false information on their website and Facebook page. Various malicious articles that were published were allegedly promoting animosity on foreign races in Singapore. In an editor’s note posted on their website, it says that they want the companies to think twice when hiring foreigners without giving preference to Singapore workforce.
That is why we need educators and business owners to let their students and their people know about the value of cyber wellness and responsible content development. This will enable them to protect themselves in getting or creating false information. Some of simple ways to observe responsible blogging includes proper research by checking your facts, considering possible implications and respecting information ownership.
We at ACP know the importance of implementing cyber wellness not only in our organisation but as well as in our customers. We have developed different programs to educate students, teachers, and parents about internet safety, cyber wellness and responsibility through Social Media Awareness with the Right Tools, SMART. We also have the Information Literacy Programme which aims to educate students to evaluate the information they collated on online or other sources and move them towards self-directed learning.