On February 17, the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ held its 17th Academy webinar on the VK community platform Safe Information Environment for Childhood, focusing on digital self-preservation skills – specifically, safeguarding personal space and reputation on social media.
The topic was chosen as the event coincided with the 19th Safer Runet Week, a nationwide awareness campaign uniting dozens of educational and industry partners to promote digital literacy, share best practices in internet safety, and inform users of all ages about the risks of the digital landscape while teaching responsible online behavior. The Week will continue until February 26, with the full program available on the official event page at неделя-безопасного-рунета.рф.
Danil Drozd, Head of Legal at Likee in Russia and the CIS, was the guest speaker.
“There are no 100% reliable sources of information on the internet. Even verification badges and inclusion in official registries do not guarantee content authenticity. Always analyze information independently,” Drozd emphasized, highlighting the importance of critical thinking in the digital age and the personal responsibility of every user.
The expert dissected real-life fraud cases, including a high-profile incident involving an Ozon account, demonstrating that even a verified page of a major brand is not immune to hacking.
“If you receive a message about a prize or a request for help – be cautious, especially if it arrives in private messages rather than being posted publicly on a page,” he noted.
During the live discussion, the experts explored practical social media safeguards – from adjusting account privacy settings to countering digital negativity. Special attention was paid to financial security and personal data protection.
The moderator, Viktoria Bunchuk, Head of Social Projects at the Coordination Center, underscored the mental health aspects for users:
“Social media can significantly impact our emotional wellbeing. The constant stream of information, negative comments, and aggressive content can trigger stress and anxiety. That’s why it’s crucial to set up safety filters, restrict access to unwanted users, and remember that you can always control the content you see. Protecting your digital space isn’t just about data security – it’s also about safeguarding your psychological comfort.”
Notably, Likee has actively participated in Safer Runet Week for the second year as a partner and organizer of online events. Until February 26, the platform’s subscribers can join a challenge by creating videos about their methods for avoiding online scams or sharing stories of encountering fake content. The videos should be posted on Likee under the hashtag #НеделяБезопасногоРунета.
On February 20, Likee invites all users to join the livestream Digital Safety Without Extremes: How Not to Become Paranoid, featuring a cross-generational debate among Gen Xers, Millennials, and Zoomers about various aspects of digital security.
The Coordination Center’s webinars on the Safe Information Environment for Childhood platform are held several times a year, attracting notable guests to discuss pressing topics and educational initiatives related to the evolution of the modern digital landscape.
Recordings of all sessions are available on the Coordination Center’s official VK community.
