Bulgaria needs to encourage digital literacy: report

A survey that was published on Tuesday has shown that Bulgaria needs to encourage digital literacy because of the possible pitfalls related to the use of the Internet.

"A national policy that promotes positive and safe use of digital technologies has to be developed and implemented," said the report based on Bulgaria's first survey of the experiences of children up to eight years of age in the use of digital technology.

This national policy should include the introduction and implementation of effective measures for the protection and empowerment of children in the digital age, said the report prepared by the Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre.

Digital literacy should become part of the curriculum starting from preschool, the report said.

Teachers should be trained to work with parents and children on issues related to digital literacy, and to use digital devices in the classroom in a way that supports children's education, it said.

"Educational institutions should implement policies and practices that encourage digital literacy of children and protect them both in the Internet and in the real world," the report said.

Meanwhile, parents should be aware of potential dangers that come with the use of the Internet and how to deal with them, the report said.

They also should have access to the latest information on the development of children's digital literacy, and should know where to seek counseling or how to report inappropriate content, the report said.

According to the survey conducted by the Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre based on a methodology developed by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission, most parents were worried that their children could communicate with strangers on the Internet, although the likelihood of this happening is small.

However, during the interviews it became clear that the children visit Facebook, Messenger and Instagram without their parents' acknowledgement, the survey showed. Endit