BEING A RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL CITIZEN

1. These days, digital technology is a major part of everyday life for all of us, and we use it for almost everything, from work to school and entertainment. Therefore, with everyone spending so much time connected to the Internet and using digital devices, it's important that we all understand how to be responsible digital citizens in the modern world. But what exactly does that mean?

2. A responsible digital citizen is someone who uses technology in a sensible way and encourages others to do the same. They are careful about their online behavior and always try to be as polite as possible, which helps others to avoid having negative experiences online. Responsible digital citizens respect other people's privacy, too. They don't post pictures of others or discuss people's personal lives without their permission because that could harm their online security. In this way, digital citizens help others to feel safer and more comfortable in the digital world.

3. Responsible digital citizens are also aware of the potential risks of being online. They understand that there are fake websites and online scams which try to access people's personal information to hack into their social media accounts or even bank accounts. When a digital citizen encounters one of these online scams, they should report it to the cyber police to stop this behavior from happening. By doing this, digital citizens play an important role in making the Internet a safer place for all users.

4. While many of us know how to use digital technology safely these days, we should remember that there are many other people who are still at risk. By being responsible digital citizens, we can help everyone gain the benefits of the digital world without putting themselves at risk.

(Adapted from Bright)

1. With the rise of smartphones and wireless internet, children today have easier access to the internet, which has led to an increase in internet addiction. This problem is especially common among children in rural areas, who tend to spend more time on mobile games and livestreaming compared to children in cities.

2. In cities, parents usually live with their children, allowing them to supervise and guide their kids more easily. Cities also offer a variety of cultural and entertainment facilities, such as parks, libraries, and amusement parks. These places give children many ways to spend their time, even if they are not enrolled in special classes. However, children in rural areas often face different challenges. Many of them live without their parents, who work in other cities, and they lack access to cultural and recreational activities outside of their homes and schools.

3. Many rural children, especially those of migrant workers, live with their grandparents. While grandparents care for their grandchildren's basic needs, they often do not understand their interests or emotional needs. In addition, grandparents may not recognize the dangers of smartphones, leading migrant parents to give their children smartphones to keep them occupied, which can cause addiction.

4. Preventing internet addiction is difficult without proper parental supervision. Many anti-addiction systems in mobile games are not very effective, as children can use an adult's identity to bypass them. For migrant parents, controlling their children's screen time is particularly challenging.

5. To solve this problem, it is important to develop local industries in rural areas. This would allow parents to find jobs closer to home, helping them balance work and raising their children. Improving rural industries is crucial for both children's well-being and their future success.

Biodiversity conservation

1. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre works to protect the world's natural and cultural heritage and promote sustainable development. It achieves this by applying the World Heritage Convention worldwide. Its main tasks include monitoring the condition of heritage sites, providing technical support to countries, training conservation experts, and managing projects to ensure heritage is preserved for future generations.

2. Since 2002, the Central Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative has focused on conserving forests in the Congo Basin. This program improves the management of World Heritage sites and integrates them into the region's ecological systems. UNESCO also supports protecting endangered species, like elephants and giraffes, in areas such as the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger) and Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Community-based efforts, such as those in Lake Malawi National Park, protect unique biodiversity, including the lake's fish species.

3. In emergencies like natural disasters and conflicts, UNESCO provides support through the Rapid Response Facility. This program has helped protect over 25 sites covering 300,000 km². For example, in Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic), UNESCO helped wildlife recover after years of civil unrest.

4. Working with local communities is a key part of the World Heritage Convention. UNESCO launched the Community Management of Protected Areas for Conservation initiative in 2000 to support sustainable community projects, such as those in Botswana's Okavango Delta and the Maloti-Drakensberg Park in South Africa and Lesotho.

5. The World Heritage Marine Programme, started in 2005, protects marine areas of global importance. Efforts include monitoring conservation, promoting coral reef resilience, and using environmental DNA research to address climate challenges. These initiatives aim to preserve marine heritage for future generations.