Cluj-Napoca, June 1, 2024 – On the occasion of International Children’s Day, the NTT DATA Romania team announces the national expansion of its educational program, "Digital Jungle" Created and developed by NTT DATA’s cybersecurity experts, the program is aimed at school and high school students and is designed to equip them with defensive knowledge to safely navigate their interactions in the digital world. The initiative aims to reach over 5,000 students and volunteers across 35 schools by 2025.
“Our experts provide a guide that every child should have ready whenever they venture into the 'digital jungle.' The deeper you go into the jungle, the greater the risks. These threats are very real—scams, identity and personal data theft, hacking, cyberbullying, and unintentional exposure to many other, less visible dangers,” said Maria Metz, CEO of NTT DATA Romania.
“As a mother, I know very well that completely banning children from the digital world is neither possible nor desirable. Through interactive education, children can become aware of online dangers and learn how to protect themselves,” Maria Metz added.
Anxiety and Depression Among Children — Devastating Effects of Online Aggression
NTT DATA Romania also supports the "Being" initiative, led by the Education Cluster (C-EDU) and the Inim Foundation. The goal is to map the mental well-being of children and young people through a study conducted across 13 countries worldwide. Romania is the only EU member state participating in the Being initiative.
The published report shows that most Romanian youth report experiencing online aggression and that Romania’s social media landscape has become fertile ground for cyberbullying, discrimination, and disinformation. Children are exposed to risks that may affect their mental development, potentially leading to episodes of anxiety or depression as direct consequences of online threats or harassment.
The "Being" report can be read here.
The Internet Is a Jungle — Learn How to Explore It!
The program has already been implemented in more than five schools in the Cluj area, reaching over 720 participants in three cities. By 2025, the NTT DATA team aims to reach more than 5,000 participants in seven cities nationwide.
NTT DATA experts present serious digital security concepts in a fun and playful format suitable for children of all ages. Children are taught how to create strong passwords — the longer, the better — and how to remember them easily. They learn not to share personal information with strangers online, to be cautious about the photos they post, and to avoid clicking on suspicious links.
Supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Romania
The Embassy of Switzerland in Romania supports NTT DATA Romania’s initiative and participates in “Digital Jungle” sessions with the Webster comic book series for children. The stories address real-life digital situations that any family member might encounter — online scams, blackmail attempts, conspiracy theories, screen addiction, inappropriate content, and other types of digital fraud.
Through the adventures of the Webster family, readers are taught how to behave responsibly in such scenarios. Each story is accompanied by practical advice on how to avoid falling into the traps of the internet.