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| dr Veronica Samara, Saferinternet.gr, Greece |
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Veronica Samara holds an MSc and a PhD degree in computer science from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. In the period 1988-1993 she worked in Germany at the Technical University of Darmstadt, at the  company Software AG, and at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics, as member of the scientific core.In the period 1993-1997 she obtained positions as project co-ordinator and as multimedia systems consultant in the companies Intracom, Eurocom, and Exodus, in Greece. From 1997 until 2008, she was heading the R&D department of Extreme Media Solutions Ltd, in Athens, Greece. Since 2007, Ms. Samara has been the managing director of the non-profit organisation Safer Internet Hellas, which is coordinating the Greek Safer Internet Centre. Since 1993, Ms. Samara has been working in various national and European projects, especially in the Esprit, Impact, Delta, Telematics, Acts, Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates, and IST frameworks. Since 2001, Ms. Samara and her team have been actively involved in the Safer Internet framework of the European Commission, in the projects SIFKaL, SafeBorders, SafeNetHome, SafeNetHomePlusand now in Saferinternet.gr, implementing the Greek awareness campaign for the period 2009-2010. ABSTRACT 30 September, Wednesday, 10.00 – 10.20 Plenary session: The parents' responsibility in their kids' media education - their view and their role It is no news that today’s kids and youngsters see the Internet as one of the many activities in their daily lives. They cannot think of the world being without Internet or mobile phone. But, what about parents? Why are so many still, which deny the use of the Internet, leading to extreme behaviour: either forbidding its use to their kids thinking that they protect them in this way, or (the other extreme) leaving their kids unattended and free to do whatever they want online? The Internet is definitely not a 'digital nanny', and unfortunately, in our today's world, where parents have to work from the morning till the night to provide their kids with a good life, nannies are so highly wished. But …let us remember, that it is the need for communication and the absence of it within the family, which in many cases forces the kids to seek for help through online 'friends' and to escape in the Internet world, sometimes with fatal consequences. As our helpline colleagues – medical doctors – say, when a child sits for hours quietly in his room in front of his computer, parents should not feel 'happy' and relieved, but should worry… What does the kid do? With whom does the kid communicate? It is high time for parents to understand that they have to keep pace with their children in this vastly evolving digital age. Even if kids and children may now more concerning the use of the virtual worlds, it is the parents who can, through their life experiences, educate their kids to use those worlds ethically, safely and with critical thinking. The key in this education is communication and trust among the family members, never to forbid without reason, to place rules within the family, which are respected also by the parents, and to always be 'there' for the child, when in need. Smart strategies can help parents to stay close to their kids and be their trusted guides.
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