INTERNET LITERACY HANDBOOK Supporting users in the online world Building a Europe for and with children www.coe.int/children INTERNET LITERACY HANDBOOK Supporting users in the online world Council of Europe French Edition: Manuel de maîtrise de l’Internet The opinions expressed in this work are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Council of Europe. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic (CD-Rom, Internet, etc.) or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the Directorate of Communication (F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex or [email protected]). Cover, layout and graphic deisgn: Iddifix Council of Europe Publishing F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex http://book.coe.int Authors: Janice Richardson, Elizabeth Milovidov and Martin Schmalzried © Council of Europe, October 2017 Printed at the Council of Europe Table of contents FOREWORD 7 INTRODUCTION 9 1. INTERNET – ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Fact sheet 1 – Getting connected 13 Fact sheet 2 – Online presence and the cloud 19 Fact sheet 3 – Web 2.0, Web 3.0 and more 25 Fact sheet 4 – Blogs and vlogs 31 Fact sheet 5 – Internet on the go 37 2. INTERNET – CONNECTING IDEAS AND PEOPLE Fact sheet 6 – E-mail and communication 45 Fact sheet 7 – Chat and messaging media 49 Fact sheet 8 – Social networking and social sharing 55 Fact sheet 9 – Privacy and privacy settings 61 3. INTERNET – PARTICIPATING IN THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY Fact sheet 10 – Searching for information 71 Fact sheet 11 – Finding quality information on the Web 77 Fact sheet 12 – Distance learning and MOOCs 81 Fact sheet 13 – Shopping online 87 4. INTERNET – FOR EVERYONE Fact sheet 14 – Videos, music and images on the Internet 93 Fact sheet 15 – Creativity 99 Fact sheet 16 – Games 103 Fact sheet 17 – Digital citizenship 107 Fact sheet 18 – Digital parenting: positive and proactive 115 5. INTERNET – ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGE Fact sheet 19 – Cybercrime: spam, malware, fraud and security 123 Fact sheet 20 – Labelling and filtering 129 Fact sheet 21 – Online harassment: bullying, stalking and trolling 135 Fact sheet 22 – Getting assistance 141 6. INTERNET - LOOKING FORWARD Fact sheet 23 – Internet of things 147 Fact sheet 24 – Artificial intelligence, automation and disruptive technologies 151 Fact sheet 25 – Virtual and augmented reality 157 Fact sheet 26 – Are you the product? Big data, data mining and privacy 163 Acknowledgments Janice Richardson has been a consultant in children’s rights online for several decades and led the editorial team for this Handbook. Coordinator of the European Commission’s 30-country wide Insafe network until 2014, and more recently the ENABLE anti-bullying network, Janice also sits on Facebook’s Safety Advisory Board. Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, J.D. is an eSafety consultant with more than 20 years of experience as an attorney, law professor and child rights advocate. Her mission is to empower parents and children on Internet, technology and social media issues and she is the founder of DigitalParentingCoach.com. Martin Schmalzried is Senior Policy Officer for COFACE (Confederation of Family Organisations in the EU) and specialises in safer Internet and new technologies. He is Chair of the SIP BENCH III project (review of parental control tools) and has been involved in numerous EU projects and initiatives linked to this field. Foreword How important is it to be Internet literate? The short answer to that is quite clear: very important. There are fast-approaching 3.5 billion Internet users, some 20% of which are in the European region. And while the Internet offers a stream of information to experience and share, navigating securely in the complex online world can be a demanding task. A basic knowledge set is required. This Handbook offers that knowledge set using language that is straightforward and easy to digest. This is not a brand new publication, but a constantly evolving set of handy tips on how to get to grips with nowadays’ ever-increasing flow of information. The contents of the Handbook are equally clearly laid out online, thanks also to the winning graphics, so that the sections can be presented to groups in classrooms or community centres. In this way, it can be used as a tool for training purposes, and for all age-groups. In unravelling a myriad of complexities, the Handbook offers insights into ethical considerations and risks attached to sharing information: if we wish to use the Internet to quench our thirst for knowledge, and share our thoughts and opinions, then we must do so responsibly. Human rights tenets are just as applicable in the digital world as they are offline. They are engaged, for example, with regard to respecting others’ freedom of expression and privacy online, as well as having ours respected by others. How do we ensure that our own personal data is safe? What do we do if we come across illegal content or are at the receiving end of bullying or hate speech? These topics and many, many more are presented in a way which provides practical advice and tips for an eager public, with an invitation for readers to think critically about what they see and read online, and to make informed and safe choices. If we are online to share ideas, we are at the same time building knowledge and understanding; we may challenge conventional wisdom, and we may create networks for positive change. This is particularly evident for younger generations, for whom the Internet offers endless opportunities to explore, learn, socialise and create, which in turn contribute directly to their personal development. It has become their primary source of freedom and information in growing up, and gives them the means to exercise their rights and freedoms online. Although the Internet harbours potential pitfalls, cautionary measures can be taken and sensible assistance provided. In order not to deter (especially younger) users, the Internet must not be presented as a dark place signposted with danger and caution. It is precisely in its aim of providing support in using the Internet knowledgeably, creatively, safely and fearlessly that marks the Handbook out as a unique and precious tool. If, through the Handbook, children can embrace the multitude of possibilities that the Internet has to offer, at the same time as building up their digital resilience, conscious of their own capabilities and responsibilities, then the Handbook will have served its purpose. The Council of Europe is proud to have followed the evolution of the Handbook and grateful to the many involved over the years in its initial launch, subsequent revision and edition. This tool now provides an even richer source of quality information for children, parents, teachers and policy makers of the 47 member states to be able to make the most of the Internet and to prepare future generations to use the Internet safely and confidently. Snežana Samardžić-Marković Christos Giakoumopoulos Director General of Democracy Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law Internet Literacy Handbook | Page 7 Introduction Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, …a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. … Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, January 1997-December 2006 his is the second edition of the Internet Literacy Handbook, which was initially published in 2003. The first edition was revised at three-yearly intervals, in 2006 and 2009, in an effort to keep up T with the challenging pace of evolution in the online technology sector. Although this edition proposes a similar structure, the content has been completely updated and new Fact sheets added, with special focus also on the technology of tomorrow. The handbook is destined for a broad public including families, educators and policy makers; however, it also provides links to more in-depth information and resources for those who wish to delve further into the topics. At the same time, it is aimed to be instructive for young people in their teens and 20s who figure amongst the most avid users of technology and are the shapers and makers of new trends. Above all, the Internet Literacy Handbook sets out to provide information and promote reflection on some of the more complex ethical, sociological and cultural issues that are intrinsically linked to digital- and media-related activities which have taken on such a large role in the lives of a majority of people in many parts of the world. The Council of Europe, which publish this handbook, has striven since 1949 to promote, protect and develop human rights, democracy and the rule of law in its 47 member states. As technology has rapidly reached into most corners of most people’s lives over the past half century, it has also impacted upon human rights, responsibilities and freedoms, and at the same time considerably extended the concept of literacy, which is at their core. The Internet Literacy Handbook is one of the Council of Europe’s broad palette of instruments aimed at tackling the many challenges and at taking advantage of the many opportunities that have come in the wake of the Internet. Some of these instruments are referenced in the handbook. Literacy implies the mastery of contemporary tools of communication as a means of expression and understanding – previously known in English as the 3Rs (reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic).