Starting today, young people can turn to youthprivacy.ca, an interactive web site that offers advice about how youth can protect their personal information and take charge of how their identity is being shaped online.
Canadian youth are among the most wired in the world — they see the Internet as one of the most powerful ways to connect with and make new friends. And while we know that the Internet is the least private of spaces, many young people think that the messages they send online are private and no one else will see them. This new web site aims to encourage young people to build a secure online identity, so they are not putting themselves in any kind of risk. The goal is to capture the attention of young people and to keep them interested so they’ll be motivated to start protecting their privacy when they are online and out in the real world.
Youthprivacy.ca also features a blog where young Canadians can discuss how technology is affecting their privacy. We are looking for some young bloggers — if you know any, encourage them to write some posts!
The web site also features a new contest that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner is holding for young people, between the ages of 12 and 18. The “My Privacy and Me” National Video Competition invites youth to create their own public service announcement on the issue of privacy. Detailed information about the contest is featured on the new web site.
In the coming months, Canadians can expect to see more tools and learning materials on youthprivacy.ca, which will be designed to help Canadian youth tackle the challenge of managing their personal information and identity in an increasingly dynamic online world. Visit youthprivacy.ca now and tell us what you think!