Today’s teens form part of Gen Z, young people who were born and raised in the new technology era, who cannot envisage an offline world with no access to the Internet or social media. From an early age, they have juggled with computers, tablets and smartphones, accessories they use in their daily lives. Due to this advent of technology and engagement of children with it online, avenues and opportunities for  cyber criminals would only be on the rise in the future. Hence, Cyber Security is the need of the hour.

• Over 7.5 million Facebook users are under 13 years old and over 81 percent of teens admit that bullying is easier to get away with online.
• Every 1 out of 10 children hides cyber bullying incidents from their parents. Most surprising fact is that teenagers are getting attracted more into the cybercrime world not for money but to achieve a sense of accomplishment and prove themselves among their peers.
• Young people (10-16 years) who accessed or shared sexual content or images of cyberbullying or violence had up to a 50% higher risk for thoughts of suicide.
• 50% of children had experienced at least one kind of cyberbullying in their lifetime. 44% of children who had been cyberbullied before lockdown said it happened even more during lockdown.
• There has been a 70% increase in the amount of bullying/hate speech among teens and children in the month since the Covid lockdown began.
• Girls (40.6%) are much more likely to be victims of cyberbullying than boys (28.8%).
• In 2015, an Australian study found that cyber fraud offenses committed by individuals under 18 years of age had risen by 26% within the previous two years, and 84% within the past three years.
• Roughly one in six youngsters within the US, and one in four young people within the EU, reported that they had attempted some form of internet hacking.
• In 2014 Wang Zhengyang, a 13-year-old boy who’s been dubbed China’s ‘hacking prodigy’ hacked into his school’s computer system to get answers to his homework. In a separate case, a British teenager who worked as a ‘hacker for hire’ was spared a prison sentence after having orchestrated cyber-attacks targeting global institutions from his bedroom. This teenager was just 13 when he joined a network of online hackers.

Aforementioned statistics are daunting and call for an academic involvement to bring awareness amongst the students, faculties and parents about Cyber Security and CyberPeace. Moreover, it calls for a synergised educational curriculum across the globe where students are taught the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ on the cyber platforms. 

The objective of introducing Cyber Safety and CyberPeace in the academic curriculum is to educate students, faculties and parents about the importance of the threat of cybercrime in the use of digital technology, particularly internet, social media, etc. It would also teach the young teenagers on how to identify and mitigate the cyber challenges they come across almost every single time they are using the internet. 

The road to CyberPeace leads through enlightening and educating the present day generation towards better and foolproof cyber-hygiene. Let’s all take the oath to:

1. Respect the digital rights of every individual by not engaging in any form of offensive, or abusive, behaviour and demonstrating empathy online.
2. Be a responsible netizen by following the principles of good netiquette and to practice good cyber hygiene, setting an example for my peers.
3. Responsibly use my computer devices and time spent surfing on the internet, ensuring that I will make friends and engage in activity and games to keep good physical and mental health.
4. Never download, install or copy any content or software protected by copyright from the Internet without permission from the owner and to duly give credits upon use of such content or software.
5. Not use my knowledge and skills to indulge in activities that will violate the law of the land, or that may hurt any individual, or tamper with the security and infrastructure of the nation or any organization in any manner.
6. Not like, share or post any content that is fake or that may hurt the sentiments of any individual, religious group, gender, entity, caste, community or nation.
7. Never join, share, promote or follow the ideologies of any anti-national, radical, terrorist, anti-religious or anti-peace group over internet.
8. Constantly strive to the best of my ability to work towards CyberPeace at a global and national level.
9. Responsibly report, or disclose, any vulnerability, incident, post, group or activity which comes to my notice, that may compromise individuals, citizens at large, or national security or reputation.
10. Continuously enhance my learning and awareness about cyber security and to spread the message, principles and practices of “Security and Peace in Cyberspace” among my friends, relatives and peers. 

We ask you to sign this pledge and show solidarity towards CyberPeace.