About Cyber Wellness
The digital revolution – particularly the advancement of mobile and digital technologies - has changed the way media is used. The new environment presents risks and pitfalls, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the digital world.
Cyber wellness refers to the positive well-being of internet users and a healthy cyber culture for the Internet community. It involves an understanding of the risks of harmful online behaviour, an awareness of how to protect oneself and other Internet users from such behaviour, and a recognition of the power of the Internet to benefit oneself and the community at large.
To encourage and promote safe, responsible use of the Internet and healthy gaming, MDA advocates a holistic public outreach approach to educate not just youth, but also educators, parents and the general public to raise the awareness as well as impart essential coping skills in evaluating what they read, see and hear in the media.
MDA works closely with a number of partners from the public, people and private sectors to raise awareness on the core values of cyber wellness through various activities. In particular, MDA works closely with Inter-Ministry Cyber Wellness Steering Committee (ICSC) and Internet and Media Advisory Committee (INMAC) in identifying and facilitating key cyber wellness initiatives.
Inter-Ministry Cyber Wellness Steering Committee (ICSC)
Formed in February 2009, the ICSC comprises of representative members from MICA, MOE, MCYS, MINDEF, MHA, IDA as well as MDA. Focusing on public education, ICSC works on improving coordination across the various government agencies and partners from the people-private sectors with regards to cyber wellness.
The ICSC recognises the importance of a multi-prong collaborative approach involving public-people-private sectors. To provide greater support to the community, ICSC has launched a call for proposals on 30 November 2009. Successful proposals will receive a co-funding support from ICSC, through the $10 million fund which has been set aside for the scheme over the next five years
The INMAC comprises from representatives from industry and people sectors such as Hewlett Packard, SingTel, MediaCorp, StarHub, Nokia as well as TOUCH Community Services and Fei Yue Community Services. The members are active in the facilitation and promotion of media literacy and cyber wellness public education programmes.
In addition, INMAC is also an advisory and consultative council that works closely with MDA and ICSC on key issues pertaining to media literacy, cyber wellness and related policies, issues and programmes.
Once Upon A Cyberspace
New media is becoming an inseparable part of the everyday lives of youth in Singapore. To raise the awareness on the importance of Internet safety among youth between the ages of 10 and 14 – and their families – MDA commissioned a special programme Once Upon A Cyberspace.
The 3D animated series ran as six 1-minute interstitials on MediaCorp’s okto channel for six running weeks at the beginning of April 2009, highlighting situations where discerning and responsible use of new media and Internet should be cultivated. The series covered the following issues:
· Cyber-bullying
· Game addiction
· Dangers of sharing personal information online (for example, in chat rooms), online socialisation (for example, making new friends via chat rooms)
· Invasion of privacy
· Internet viruses
Episode One – Instant Messaging Little Red Riding Hood:
Little Red Riding Hood comes online to find a message from an unfamiliar girl living in another part of Singapore. She starts chatting with her, ends up saying she’s going to visit her Grandma, and even reveals her Grandma’s address! We later discover this “girl” is in fact the Big Bad Wolf in disguise. Watch to see what happens to Little Red Riding Hood next!
Episode Two – Snow White and Online Gaming:
Beautiful Snow White settles into her seat and begins to enjoy a steaming cup of freshly brewed hot chocolate. Turning to her computer, she fires up a popular online game and starts playing…. and playing… and playing. Time flies by, the hands on the clock are turning, but Snow White keeps going till we see that she is so tired and exhausted. Will Snow White ever stop?
Episode 3 - The Three Little Pigs and the Attack of the Internet Virus
The first little pig is a carefree – and careless – character. While surfing online, he unknowingly picks up a virus which causes havoc on his computer! His brother pigs are online as well, and they get the same virus. What will happen to the second and third little pigs?
Episode 4 – Sleeping Beauty and Her Mobile Phone
Sleeping Beauty is playing a game on her handphone while on an MRT train. She falls asleep on the train, with her mobile phone on her lap. A short while later, the MRT train comes to a stop. She wakes up just in the nick of time as she realises she is at her station. She rushes out of the train. In the process, however, she has dropped her mobile phone. Will a kind soul pick up the phone and return it to her untouched?
Episode 5 - Pinocchio Goes on a Blind Date
Pinocchio tries to get a date in an online chat room, but instead of being truthful, he decides to “borrow” Prince Charming’s identity. He poses as Prince Charming, posting photos of the tall and handsome prince as himself! To his surprise, he manages to land a date. Will it he get a happily-ever-after ending?
Episode Six – The Big Bad Internet Bully
The Little Princess has just set up a blog. She is happy and starts posting blogs about her travels and photos. One day, she realises that someone has been anonymously posting stupid and offensive comments on her blog, together with vandalised photos from her site. She is angered and takes matters into her own hands. Watch what happens next!