Young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina face significant risks on the internet and are both victims and perpetrators of digital rights violations, but the authorities are not doing enough to ensure their safety, a new report by BIRN shows.
The research revealed that even though 96 per cent of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina have regular internet access, there is a lack of awareness about online privacy and rights among the country’s youth.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also lacks comprehensive legislation addressing online abuses and child protection, resulting in unpunished online criminal activities due to the absence of any legal definition of the internet as a public space.
Parental knowledge gaps and limited media literacy compound the challenges, as highlighted in research by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Regulatory Agency for Communication and the UN children’s fund UNICEF. Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity introduced a curriculum subject called ‘Digital World’ in schools in 2021, but media and information literacy remain noticeably absent from regular curricula in other parts of the country, as BIRN’s research highlighted.
Digital violence becomes commonplace
Infographic: BIRN/Igor Vujcic.
According to BIRN’s findings, young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are active users of the internet and social media, primarily engaging in communication, entertainment activities and information-gathering. Instagram is the most popular platform, but trust in social media varies among the young people who were surveyed.
Safer Internet Centre: Supporting children online
Established in 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Safer Internet Centre serves as a vital resource for children and youth seeking help and support in navigating the digital world.
Through prevention programmes, an SOS line for reporting inappropriate content, and a support line for victims of digital violence, the Centre provides crucial assistance.
The Centre’s initiatives aim to create a safe digital environment through preventive measures and timely interventions. For more information, see www.sigurnodijete.ba.
Alarmingly, one in three high school students surveyed has experienced hate speech from their peers online, and every fifth student has faced some form of discrimination by their peers. This suggests that high school students are both victims and perpetrators of digital violence, showing that relevant institutions should examine the causes of this behaviour and develop strategies to reduce or prevent it.
While the students surveyed said that social media keeps informed about local news, the research highlighted significant gaps in digital education. More than half of those surveyed said they are unaware of the concept of digital rights, while digital safety isn’t integrated into regular curricula.
Risky online behaviour and exposure to inappropriate content are widespread, and 48 per cent of parents do not monitoring their children’s online activities, the survey suggested. Previous research indicates that parents in Bosnia and Herzegovina often lack sufficient knowledge of how to ensure children’s safety online, while also lacking media and digital literacy.
Despite acknowledging the positive aspects of the internet, students know little about reporting mechanisms for harmful content. The lack of regulatory measures for online protection, coupled with inconsistent initiatives across Bosnia and Herzegovina’s various administrative units, makes curbing violations more difficult. Digital violence, once uncommon, is now a widespread issue among students.
What should be done?
Infographic: BIRN/Igor Vujcic.
BIRN’s report suggests that to address concerns about the negative impact that digital rights violations are having on young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, collective efforts are needed.
Digital rights and safety education should be integrated into school curricula, with a focus on responsible internet use and critical evaluation of online content. Educational programmes should promote positive internet use and raise awareness about hate speech and discrimination consequences. Reporting mechanisms should be promoted among young people, and anonymous reporting channels established.
Teachers need training to effectively teach digital rights, and schools should collaborate with parent councils to raise parental awareness. Continuous monitoring of online trends and mental health support for students facing online violence is essential.
Clear legal and policy measures to combat online hate speech and discrimination, harmonised across the country’s administrative units, are necessary. Financial support for institutions like the Safer Internet Centre is crucial, along with public awareness campaigns about online safety.
The research concludes that creating a safer digital space for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s youth requires a multi-faceted approach involving educators, parents, policymakers and the wider community.
This approach should prioritise digital education, establish reporting mechanisms and foster a collective commitment to positive online behaviour as crucial steps towards a safer online environment.
The full research report can be found here.
Anes Cerkez is the author of ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Youth Online: Victims and Perpetrators of Digital Rights Violations’.