For children and young people this helping them to realise that when they use the internet and mobile technologies, they are sending, receiving and communicating in a public space. Cyberwellness is about learning the skills to use and communicate with these technologies properly, keeping safe and secure, learning how to publish, disclose and interpret sources of information online and how to respect other users.

Increasingly, we are living in an exciting information saturated environment where a significant proportion of the information available online has been generated by ordinary people like you and I. This information or content is often referred to as 'user generated content' and is fuelling an information revolution. Through user generated content we can gain extraordinary first hand insights into ordinary people's lives, for example, by viewing blogs (mobile or internet journals online), we can see, read, watch or listen to accounts or events from people in various situations, such as in the midst of conflict in Iraq or from mobloggers caught up in the London bombing incidents.

Children and young people are becoming active producers and consumers of online content, services and communications. With these extraordinary freedoms to express themselves come attendant responsibilities and on occasion possible risks. This fundamental alteration in children and young people's relationship with new media means that it is imperative that we empower children and young people with the necessary tools, knowledge, skills and understanding in order to nurture cyberwellness and the bility to make informed decisions about appropriate and safe use of new technologies.

The first Cyberwellness Task Force was set up in Singapore in 2002. The Taskforce developed four key values that could form the basis for public education, namely to do the following;

• Embrace the Net and Inspire Others

• Develop Astuteness,

• Practise Respect and Responsibility

• Strike a Balance Beyond the Internet.

Ensuring that you as parents are equipped with advice and guidance about Cyberwellness related issues will help you to open lines of communication with your children not only about their use of communication technologies but also about the decisions they make online, for example, about the information they create and access; which services they use; and whom they communicate with. In addition, central issues such as human rights, citizenship and netiquette will be explored will be explored throughout this Cyberwellness section.

This section of the site takes a holistic approach in terms of providing you with insights into the nature of the material children and young people may encounter on line and linking you to relevant advice and guidance. Equipped with this knowledge and support you will be better placed to consider and discuss these issues from a Cyberwellness perspective and to engage with your children about these issues.