Tuesday 12 February 2008

SAFE INTERNET USE

It is a Safer Internet Day today. Slovene media are full of advice and reports on safe.si campaign. From the Slovene ombudsman, to other organizations , safer internet is being promoted.

Eupean Commission funds the Insafe campaign. Today they have a global blogathon, opened by Commissioner Reding, where they aim for posts from different countries, starting in Australia and going West. I will wait for Slovenia to comment.

Although I agree with the ideals of promoting safer internet, I am a bit worried that it can unleash a sort of moral panic and moralistic discourse on internet, causing parents to interpret the main message of the campaign into "the safest internet use is no use at all". At least the video advertisement made for safe internet use is a "bit" exaggerated.

2 comments:

Igor Vobič said...

I agree ... Recent journalistic reporting and other media outlets, such as the advertisment you mention, reproduce moral panic discourse. I think that the prevailing Slovene translation of Safer Internet Day adds something to it: dan varne rabe interneta (eng. Day of Safer Use of the Internet).

Igor Vobič said...

As if the Internet produces content by it self, as if it is a natural phenomenon ... Terrible translation.