Diotima Centre and UNICEF present a new educational game in the form of a digital application (App). Play Safe aims to inform and raise awareness among adolescents and young people about online gender-based violence and harassment.
Online gender-based violence
In recent years, online gender-based violence has become widespread, especially among young people (children and adolescents), due to the increasing use of the internet and social media. It particularly affects girls/young women and LGBTQ+ adolescents and young people. According to the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA, 2014, 2020), this form of violence is suffered by:
- 1 in 10 women in the EU from the age of 15+
- 9-15% of LGBTQ+ people in the EU from the age of 15+
Online gender-based violence and harassment take many forms, including the dissemination of videos and photos of sexual content without consent, digital surveillance, threats, cyber stalking, etc. Young people who experience it, often face physical and psychological consequences (intense discomfort, increased anxiety, depression, shame, isolation, appetite problems, headaches, etc.). In addition, since the complete removal of abusive content from the Internet is not always possible, these consequences can have a long-term effect of children and youth who experience online violence.
The game
The Play Safe App, through a series of interactive games, provides children and youth a learning opportunity to recognise online gender-based violence, whether it is happening to them or to someone close to them. It familiarises young people with a repertoire of appropriate responses when they encounter violence in the digital world. It offers useful information about where they can seek help when they need support. It cultivates empathy and solidarity by inviting them to put themselves in the other person’s shoes, highlighting the importance of zero tolerance to gender-based violence.
The Play Safe digital game is also a useful tool for parents and teachers to become aware of new forms of gender-based violence and to be ready to support children when they ask for help.
The app is available for free on the Play Store in Greek, English, and Farsi. It is supported by Android operating systems installed on mobile phones and tablets.
Download the game:
Play Safe
Share it on social media with the hashtag #PlaySafe and spread the message
“Internet without gender-based violence”!
UNICEF and the Diotima Centre jointly thank Lidl Hellas for the support for the communication dissemination of this new tool.
