Nikšić: Talked with ninth grade students about privacy and data protection

On the occasion of January 28, International Data Protection Day, and February 11, International Safer Internet Day, the non-governmental organization (NGO) "Alfa Center", in cooperation with the NGO "35mm", organized a workshop entitled "Mobile Phones and My Data". The workshop, which aimed to raise knowledge and awareness of the aforementioned topic among young people, was held at the "Mileva Lajović-Lalatović" Elementary School, and was attended by 50 ninth-grade students from that school.

"At a time when we are all, especially young people, increasingly exposed to mobile phones and internet platforms, it is necessary to pay special attention to this topic. Today, it is understood that children already at school age have access to mobile phones, but in this sphere there is a lack of education about their proper and safe use. I consider it important to talk about the importance of this topic, a better understanding of the concept of personal data, but also what are the ways in which we can protect them from misuse," said Nađa Perović from "Alfa Center".

The workshop was held by media and digital literacy educator Snežana Nikčević from "35mm".

"Understanding, first of all, how our data is used in the online space, but also how it can be exposed to various abuses, is not a topic we often talk about and think about, primarily because mobile devices and the use of the internet and various applications have been a part of our everyday lives for some time. Especially if we are talking about young people of school age who were practically born in a time where using a phone for several hours every day is somehow understood as participation in socialization at various levels. That is why it is important that at least in this format, but also through other types of informal education, we talk to young people about privacy and data protection, in order to encourage them to develop critical thinking and think about why, how and for what purposes they give access to their devices and data and how it can be used or abused," said Nikčević.