Turkey Vodafone Foundation and the Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG) have launched a new project called "My Digital Friend" (Dijital Dostum) to support children in using digital technologies more safely, consciously, and balancedly. The project aims to reach 5,000 primary and middle school students aged 8-14 in its first year.
The "My Digital Friend" training sessions, to be delivered by Community Volunteer youth in schools, will cover topics such as digital security, protection of personal data and privacy, cyberbullying, suspicious content and links, digital literacy, and screen time management.
With technology becoming central to our lives, children's screen use and digital safety are critical issues. While the internet offers significant opportunities for children in many areas, from education to entertainment, it also brings risks such as cyberbullying, privacy violations, misinformation, and excessive screen time. Therefore, it is crucial for children to learn how to use the digital world safely and consciously from an early age. The "My Digital Friend" project aims to help children establish a healthier relationship with the digital world and prepare younger generations for the digital future.
Only 1 in 4 Children Has Good Digital Life Quality
Hasan Süel, Chairman of the Turkey Vodafone Foundation, stated that children growing up in an unprecedented era of connectivity also face various digital risks.
Süel reported that according to a study conducted by the Global Vodafone Foundation in collaboration with Save the Children across 9 European countries, only 1 in 4 children and young people rate their digital quality of life as good, while 3 out of 4 children experience sleep disturbances, high stress levels, or difficulty balancing their online and offline lives.
Emphasizing the importance of strengthening digital literacy and taking measures to support digital balance, Süel noted that the My Digital Friend project was developed based on this need.
Prof. Dr. Yavuz Samur, Dean of Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Educational Sciences, who serves as the project's ambassador, stated that digital platforms are designed to keep users on screen for longer periods. Samur made the following remarks about the project:
“Our children are growing up at the center of a colossal digital universe operating under the rules of the attention economy. Instead of merely dictating what they shouldn't do, we must show them through experience how to use technology consciously, balancedly, and while protecting their personal boundaries. Through this project, children will learn to critically evaluate suspicious content and develop strategies to cope with cyberbullying.”
Training Consists of 3 Six-Hour Modules
The My Digital Friend project consists of 3 six-hour modules that encourage active participation from children, utilizing gamification and scenario discussions, rather than a classical, didactic education model.
The training curriculum is divided by age group as follows:
Primary school (8-9 years old) modules:
- My Digital Boundaries and Shares
- My Digital Balance and Safe Choices
- I Am Safe, I Can Ask for Help
Middle school (10-14 years old) modules:
- My Digital Identity and Privacy
- My Digital Rights and Cyberbullying
- Safe and Conscious Choices in the Digital World
The training sessions will be conducted in Bitlis, Izmir, Ankara, Hatay, Istanbul, Samsun, and Diyarbakır schools through face-to-face and interactive workshops. In the future, new cities and schools are planned to be included in the program.
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