Cyber Wellness

Understanding Cyber Wellness

Our students today belong to a linkster generation who are constantly connected. The open nature of the internet poses a danger to our students as it can expose them to undesirable content which may corrupt their value systems, and to unnecessary hurts.

Cyber Wellness is important as it looks into the positive well-being of students as they navigate cyberspace.

What is Cyber Wellness?

Cyber Wellness refers to the positive well-being of internet users. It involves an understanding of the norms of appropriate, responsible behaviour with regard to technology use as well as knowledge, skills, values and attitudes on how to protect oneself and other internet users in the cyber world. It looks into the positive physical and psychosocial well-being of students in their use of mobile and internet technologies. Students should also be a positive peer influence by harnessing technology for collaboration, learning and productivity, as well as advocating positive use of technology for the good of the community.

Goals of Cyber Wellness

The goal of the Cyber Wellness curriculum is to equip students with life-long social-emotional competencies and sound values so that they can become safe, respectful and responsible users of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Key Messages

The key messages to students are to:

Embrace ICT yet maintain a balanced lifestyle between the physical and the cyber world
Harness the power of ICT for positive purposes
Maintain a positive presence in cyberspace
Be a safe and responsible user of ICT

The linkster generation, also known as The Facebook Generation, are members of the population who were born after 1995, according to Johnson & Johnson (2010). They are the so-called Linkster Generation because no other generation has ever been so linked to each other and to the world through technology.

MOE’s Cyber Wellness Framework

MOE uses the CW framework to develop the child’s instinct to protect and empower him to take responsibility for his own well-being in cyberspace. The three principles, ‘Respect for Self and Others’, ‘Safe and Responsible Use’ and ‘Positive Peer Influence’ when adhered to will anchor a child’s well-being in cyberspace as he will then be able to make careful and well-considered decisions.

The school adopts MOE’s Cyber Wellness Framework in educating our students on Cyber Wellness. This framework focuses on three key processes: Sense, Think and Act.

MOE’s Cyber Wellness Framework

Components in Cyber Wellness

Components	What it refers to
Cyber Wellness Lessons	Teaching of Knowledge, Skills, Values and Attitudes for Cyber Wellness
School-based CCE	Assembly programmes related to Cyber Wellness e.g. Cyber Wellness talks, “internet-free” day, etc.
Counselling Programme	Provide intervention and support to students identified to have Cyber Wellness-related issues, and to work with parents of these students to help their children.
Working with Parents, in collaboration with the community	Involve them in reinforcing Cyber Wellness principles at home, for example, advising them to set limits on usage time, set boundaries, and set a good example for their children. Build up their knowledge by conducting workshops for parents or referring them to newly updated educational news, parenting features and tips on Schoolbag website to better support their child’s education Leverage on School Family Education (SFE) to conduct workshops for parents on awareness of new media platforms (such as Twitter, blogs, Facebook) and the issues that impact youths in the digital age. Share resources or refer parents to external professional agencies (such as Child Guidance Clinic, Institute of Mental Health, Health Promotion Board, REACH) and other helplines (such as professional counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists) to help their children who may need additional intervention for cyber wellness issues such as addiction to online gaming.

Cyber Wellness Ressources for Parents

Please click the following links to access a list of guides & tips, resources and useful links to help you to reinforce Cyber Wellness education at home: