Learner Cyber Safety Talks for Primary and High School Learners: presented by John Buswell

(These productions can be used by teachers, in the classroom, online, at any time, for years to come.)

Introduction

South African learners have increased their online time spend by over 400% in the last two years following the outbreak of COVID-19, subsequent lock downs and online classes. This increase in “screen time” has exposed both primary and high school learners to different risks, including cyberbullying, sexual grooming, the sharing of sexual content and gaming addiction.

In a recent study by the World Economic Forum, it was found that 62% of South African Children have been exposed to at least one cyber risk. 55% of children polled were victims of cyber bullying, 11% had chatted to a stranger online and 18 % had engaged in online sexual behaviour. These statistics place South Africa in the top 10 of the countries that are at risk out of the 29 countries polled.

The New Cybercrimes Act

Leaners who cyber bully, threaten or send pornographic pictures can be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment or a substantial fine or both.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Cybercrimes Bill into law, bringing South Africa’s cybersecurity laws in line with the rest of the world. The bill, which is now an act of parliament, creates offences for and criminalises, amongst others, the disclosure of data massages which are harmful. Examples of such data messages include:

• Those which incite violence or damage to property
• Those which threaten persons with violence or damage to property
• Those which contain an intimate image sent without the subject’s consent

A person who is convicted of an offence under the cybercrimes act is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period of up to 15 years or both.

Cyber Safety Production Grade 4’s – Gr 7’s

Duration: 1 Hour / Cost: R1,000-00 per product. Includes presentation, video inserts and power point show. Topics to be covered:

• Understanding the good, the bad and the ugly when using: Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, including examples.
• Profiling of an online predator, how they find you, meet you and how to avoid becoming a victim
• Cyber bullying, the definition, reporting and helping a friend
• Playing the selfie game, keeping a clean cyber image
• The Cybercrimes Act  – even children can be sent to jail
• The dangers of Pornography and selfies
• The golden rules to keeping safe in cyber space

Cyber Safety Production for High School Learners

Duration: 1 Hour / Cost: R1,000-00 per product. Includes presentation, video inserts and power point show. Topics to be covered:

• Understanding the good, the bad and the ugly when using: Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, including examples.
• Profiling of an online predator, how they find you, meet you and how to avoid becoming a victim
• Cyber bullying, the definition, reporting and helping a friend
• Playing the selfie game, keeping a clean cyber image
• The Cybercrimes Act  – even children can be sent to jail
• The dangers of Pornography and selfies
• The golden rules to keeping safe in cyber space
• The damage that your profile can do to your university application