CHILDREN AND INTERNET: EMPOWERING LEARNERS WITH CYBER SECURITY EDUCATION

Internet and technology have become an integral part of everyone's life. The penetration of the Internet and net-based technology into education has greatly benefited students in terms of access to information. However, excessive dependence and use of internet technologies pose a potential threat to users; making them, especially students, susceptible to cyber threats and crimes such as hacking, phishing, cyberbullying, etc. Although students extensively use the internet for learning, gaming, and other online activities, their awareness about the threats looming in the cyber world remains limited, and their preparedness to handle potential threats is relatively low. This paper highlights the importance to make students empower with cyber security education, so that they could live safely in the cyber world. This paper also emphasises the need for introducing cyber security education in every schools as a mandatory curricular subject at an appropriate age so as to make them aware about the threats hiding in the cyber world well before they start exploring cyber space themselves.