On September 30, as part of the celebrations for Internet Day in Russia, a creative meeting dedicated to the book Digital Footprint took place at the Central Children’s Library in Sergiyev Posad. The event was organized within the framework of the Coordination Centre for .RU/.РФ Domains project Study the Internet and Manage It and brought together young readers to introduce them to the basics of digital security in a playful manner. The guests at the meeting were children’s poet and writer, and President of the Nadezhda Foundation for the Support and Development of Children’s Literature, Nadezhda Kuznetsova, as well as the Head of Social Projects at the Coordination Centre, Victoria Bunchuk.
The meeting began with a fascinating journey into the world of digital security: complex rules and important warnings were transformed into clear and memorable rhymes. The participants, third-grade pupils from across the city, read several key poems from the book and completed practical tasks – solving a thematic crossword puzzle, learning to create strong passwords, distinguishing spam from useful emails, and mastering methods of protecting personal information online. Particular attention was paid to safe communication online and recognizing fake news: the children saw for themselves in real life how important it was to be able to assess information critically and avoid internet viruses.
Victoria Bunchuk spoke about the history of the Internet Day in Russia, which was first observed in 1998, and cited impressive figures : according to Mediascope, 105 million people use the internet in Russia every month – representing 86 percent of the population. On average, users spend about six days a month online, while young people aged 12 – 24 spend a full eight days. These figures clearly demonstrate that internet technologies have become firmly embedded in everyday life, and that digital literacy skills are not simply an advantage but a fundamental requirement for the safety and successful socialization of the modern child.
During the meeting, the importance of taking a break from gadgets was also discussed. The children agreed that “digital holidays” help to reduce stress, avoid information overload, and preserve health, while also freeing up more time for face-to-face communication and active games in the real world.
Speaking in an informal setting, Nadezhda Kuznetsova shared her motivation:
“As an author, it was very interesting for me to create simple, light, and memorable poems, so that every child, after reading a poem, could become familiar with the rules of safe behavior online.”
The young readers also asked the poetess questions about the creative process: is it difficult to be a poet, how does one write “interesting poems,” and is it easy to find rhymes for digital technologies?
All the young guests at the meeting received the book “Digital Footprint” as a gift, so that the rules of digital literacy will remain with them beyond the walls of the library, and so that the knowledge gained on this festive day will help them feel confident and safe in the online environment.
