To mark the International Safer Internet Day, the Communications Commission held a two-day training course titled “Our Internet is Our Choice – Significance of Informed Choice in the Digital World.”

Participants of the interactive training course, which consisted of two stages, included 5^th grade pupils from two public schools and youngsters from the Rustavi Shelter for Homeless Children.

The subject of the training course was the significance of safe use of the internet. Training involved active participation from the children. It consisted of theoretical and practical components and addressed the following issues:

- Cyber bullying;

- Critical assessment of information sources;

- Communication with parents, teachers and other adults;

- Protection of personal data online.

The Communications Commission conducted the training course jointly with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Social Service Agency and Caritas Georgia.

During the course of 2019, the Commission and the Ministry of Education will jointly implement five media literacy projects for children, involving parents and teachers.

The aforementioned projects have been selected based on the analysis of successful practices from EU countries, assessment of their effectiveness and the potential for their implementation in Georgia. They will help youngsters develop vital skills such as:

- The basics of computer science;

- Evaluating and analysing online content;

- Identifying false information (fake news, propaganda, harmful information);

- Critically analysing the source of information and establishing the author’s possible motivation;

- Effective and safe participation in the digital and creative economy.

The main purpose of the media literacy projects is to protect children from harmful influences and raise their awareness. In the age of technology, it is important for pupils to develop critical and creative thinking skills.

The Safer Internet Day is marked across the world on the first Tuesday in February. This year, the Safer Internet Day falls on 5 February.