Connecting Generations

Monday, October 10, 2011, 12.30–14.00, Goethe-Institut, Seminary Room

In cooperation with the Czech Safer Internet National Centre

Moderator:

 

Maria Ivanova, Professor of Policy Studies, University of Massachusetts, USA/Bulgaria

Marek Ehrenberger, Member, Together Association, Czech Republic

Kamila Brožová, Member of the Youth Panel, National Safer Internet Centre, Czech Republic

Tomáš Botlík, Chairman, National Parliament of Children and Youth, Czech Republic

Aleš Sedláček, Chairman, Czech Council of Children and Youth, Czech Republic

Zdeněk Metoděj Záliš, External Affairs Manager, National Safer Internet Centre, Czech Republic

Linda Štucbartová, Lecturer, Czech Republic

Aneta Skrebska, Czech Parliament of Children and Youth, Czech Republic

 

The panel looked at the issue of how much adults listen to younger people, and how children can be kept safe whilst using the internet. Aneta Skřebská felt there was currently “no reaction from adults” to any of the work of the Youth Parliament. She thought that parents needed to know that there are other dangers aside from pornography on the internet. There was some agreement that in many ways it is difficult for young people issues to gain recognition. Panellists felt that parents and children needed to be better educated with regards to the dangers of the internet, but did not agree which was most important.

 

Maria Ivanova wanted to remind the representatives that there are many platforms of governance to try and be heard on, from a regional level to the UN. Marek Ehrenberger suggested parents should teach children how to act in the virtual world like they do in the real world.

 

Zdeněk Metoděj Záliš thought that in other countries parental groups were more active, and that “maybe children could organise parental organisations” in the Czech Republic. He was also concerned that in the future governments would have access to a lot of information which could be abused. Linda Štucbartová wanted to remind the representatives to focus on what they can achieve, be patient, and to think about working in cooperation with concerned parents.