Russian school teachers will be taught psychological support for children to combat cyber threats

The Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment presented a new educational and methodological manual, Risks in the Digital Environment: Diagnosis, Prevention, Correction. For the first time, it categorized digital risks by age groups of children - from preschoolers to adolescents - and offered modern diagnostic tools and practical recommendations for teachers, parents and psychologists.

"The risks that children face in cyberspace are moving from technological to psychological impact," said Elizaveta Belyakova, Chair of the Alliance. - Our manual will help identify such threats, communicate with children and provide them with timely assistance."

Sofia Zakharova, a referent of the Russian President's Office for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies and Communications Infrastructure, pointed out the seriousness of the problem: "A great danger is posed by so-called virtual masks, when the true identity of an attacker hides behind fictitious images. It is important to reduce the digital divide between generations, so that children trust their parents, and they, in turn, can recognize threats."

Sergey Grebennikov, director of RAEC, added that 14-17 year olds often face difficulties with cloud storage, as well as online fraud: "Only a third of them know how to recognize threats in online games. This highlights the need for tailored educational programs to help children use technology safely and effectively."

According to the volunteer search and rescue squad "LizaAlert", digital threats can lead to real consequences. For example, about 40,000 children in Russia go missing every year, often due to cyber risks. This manual will become an important tool in combating these challenges and will help to create a safe digital environment by combining the efforts of schools, parents and society.