The second week of every February is usually a busy time for where I used to work. It was all to commemorate Safer Internet Day. A day celebrated globally to promote a safer and more positive use of digital tech, these devices that we usually touch as soon as we wake up.

I mean sis, think about it,  when was the last time you woke up in the morning without touching your phone for the first 5 mins of when those pretty little eye lids parted to welcome a brand new day? If you’re like me, that time was a very long time ago. 

We got alarms to turn off, notifications to check, time to tell, I get it, I’m not one to nark out morning habits but there’s something to be said about just opening your eyes to your surroundings, taking a minute to thank God for his mercy that is new every single morning, and not touching that device.

Well that’s something I’ve been working on lately, and it’s actually pretty helpful. There’s definitely a stillness that’s not in any other part of my day.

With that said, Safer Internet Day is really a great time to reflect on how we use the internet, social media, and all these various digital platforms.

How responsible are we being with the content we’re sharing? How well are you protecting your own online space? Do you talk to your kids or the kids and young people around you about protecting their online space? Would you know how to help if someone shared their online abuse with you?

These are only some of the questions that we who work in online safety and digital literacy try to tackle so that we can be safer and more positive with the tech.

There’s obviously a galaxy of resources available, just be sure to take simple steps to protect your digital world. Unfortunately, even in my tropical island nation, the abuse that takes place online is frightening, but it’s not without a fighting chance to better protect those that are coming up after us.