With widespread adoption of various digital technologies and platforms, the need for fundamental digital literacy skills to live safely in a digital environment and effectively utilize diverse information is becoming more critical than ever. Samsung Electronics provides basic digital education to children and youth both in Korea and abroad to enhance digital inclusivity and equip future generations with digital competencies. Let’s discover how students around the world are pursuing their dreams for the future through Samsung’s global digital literacy programs.
Blue Elephant, Building a Strong Digital Foundation for Youth
Blue Elephant is a cyber-violence prevention program for youth in Korea, launched by Samsung Electronics in partnership with the Blue Tree Foundation since 2020. The program offers sessions on developing prosocial behaviors and skills that help prevent cyber violence and create a safer online environment, which are held both online and in-person. In the first half of 2024, a total of 105 schools, 501 classes, and 11,439 students across the country completed Blue Elephant's cyberbullying prevention education session.
A parent of a third-grade student from a school in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, who participated in the online safety training, shared that they stayed up late with their child watching videos and solving problems in Blue Elephant. The parent expressed gratitude, "While completing the six missions, I was surprised to see how well my child understood cyberbullying. It was also a great opportunity to have various conversations with my daughter about cyberbullying."
A Samsung employee who participated as a teaching assistant for the cyberbullying prevention education program shared, "I’ve been thinking a lot about my child's smartphone usage lately," and added, "During my time as a teaching assistant, I learned for the first time that there are advanced educational programs like Blue Elephant in our country. It was a rewarding experience to engage with the students and contribute to such a valuable cause."
Comprehensive Digital Education for French Children and Teenagers
Samsung Electronics France operates online education platforms "e-Junior" and "My First Telephone" to teach children and teenagers about safety and proper usage of internet. e-Junior offers interactive courses that cover media literacy programs and online safety education, including internet searches, privacy protection, and digital citizenship. Meanwhile, My First Telephone provides basic education for children who are using mobile phones for the first time. Both platforms are valuable resources not only for children and teenagers but also for parents and educational professionals.
Laurence Morin-Henry, a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Jean de La Fontaine Elementary School in Saint-Touan, Paris, stated, "It is very important to teach students to use the internet and social networks thoughtfully. Banning is not the answer; providing information and education is the key." He added, "The e-Junior platform meets this need and will be used as a great educational resource by both students and their families. "
Sofia Hyungjung Cho, the CSR Manager at Samsung Electronics France, stated, "For children, their first phone represents autonomy and freedom, while for parents, it often raises numerous questions. Samsung is committed to providing the necessary tools to help both children and parents navigate this important milestone," and added, "My First Telephone platform is designed to enable children, parents, and teachers to use their first phone with confidence. This initiative is part of Samsung's broader efforts to provide better digital education for young people."
For teenagers growing up as digital natives, it is crucial to develop foundational skills that enable them to use the digital environment safely and effectively. Through various basic educational programs, we hope that young digital talents will be able to grow and unleash their potential and dreams on solid ground.
References:
• Blog of the Blue Tree Foundation,
[Blue Elephant] Cyberbullying Prevention Education Visiting Schools: Reflecting on the First Half of 2024"
• Website of the Hope Stepping Stone,
[Providing hope stepping stone for Youth Preparing for Independence] Samsung Hope Stepping Stone 2.0 employment camp field employment interview consulting received youth “Like a raindrop in a drought”
• Samsung Electronics Newsroom (France),
[Samsung Electronics France lance monpremiertelephone.fr pour sensibiliser les enfants, leurs parents et enseignants sur l’usage du premier téléphone
• Samsung Electronics Newsroom (France),
Rentrée scolaire : apprendre aux enfants à décrypter l’information et à démêler le vrai du faux sur Internet avec le e-Junior.fr
