13 percent children victims of harassment in social media: UNICEF

United Nations children affairs organization UNICEF has said that 13 percent children and teen agers of the country are being victimized of harassment in the social media. Even 3.3 percent children have closed their social media account due to harassment.

This survey was published at the inaugural session of yearlong mass awareness program organized to make internet safe for children. UNICEF Bangladesh Communication Manager AM Shakil Fayezullah upheld the survey report.

UNICEF and Facebook jointly organized the program held at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theater in the capital on Friday.

The survey report said, a major portion of internet users are under 18 years old. UNICEF conducted a survey three weeks earlier to know about their security while using internet and about their condition. This online based survey reached at more than nine lakh children and teen agers and 11 thousand 821 children took part in the survey aged between 13 years to 18.

The UNICEF survey said, 81.2 percent children and teen agers spend times in social media every day. 90 percent of them use internet on mobile phones. 80.1 percent children and teen agers were not victims in any kind of harassment.

52.3 percent children have said that they want to be friends with unknown people and 33.9 percent children have said that they will not be.

67.4 percent children have said they use internet to learn. 21.4 percent children have said they use it to make friends.

In the program as the chief guest State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, we want that children will use tab, use internet. But they would use it in a safe way. Internet should be used as knowledge house. Guardians should be alert so that the children may not fall in any kind of risk.

In the program Facebook India and South Asia policy program manager Shruti Moggi, UNICEF Bangladesh representative Adward Begbether and others were also present.

AH