1M1B, Meta Platform Inc Launches Digital Nagrik

1M1B (One Million for One Billion) – India’s largest organisation that is developing and mobilizing the future technology workforce –has launched the Digital Nagrik Campaign led by teachers and academic advisors managed by 1M1B supported by Meta Platforms Inc. Digital Nagrik will develop a community of responsible digital citizens who are aware of their digital rights and obligations.

A Digital Nagrik is a citizen who engages positively, critically, and competently in the digital environment that is respectful of human rights and dignity through the responsible and safe use of technology. The pledge aims to remind and commit citizens to act responsibly in the digital world and make cyberspace safe for all.

Digital Nagrik is the outcome of the Digital Citizenship skills curriculum that has been introduced for grades 6-8 developed by CBSE teachers managed by 1M1B and supported by Meta to empower over 1 million teachers 10 million students across India. The digital citizenship courses cover topics such as digital etiquette, cyber security, cyberbullying, information literacy, using the internet for social good, and the future of our digital world, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR/VR), and the Metaverse. The curriculum is intended to help teachers of all subjects and grades understand and train their students to be responsible digital citizens. 

1M1B has already engaged over 4 lakh teachers and 11 lakh students on Digital Citizenship, well-being, and Cyber Safety and plans to engage over 1 million people through the Digital Nagrik pledge this year.

The digital Nagrik campaign will be done in three phases between 2023 and 2025, over three academic years. The pledge will be taken by students, teachers, parents, principals and staff of schools across India starting from February 7, which is Safer Internet Day – commemorated to create public awareness about new online problems like cyberbullying, addiction of social networking sites, and theft of digital identity.

Cyber crimes in India have increased four times in the past four years. In the first two months of 2022, India reported close to 2.1 lakh cyber-crimes, which was more than the entire 2018, according to data by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team. These crimes range from identity thefts, online banking frauds, and ATM frauds to cyber-stalking and bullying. With the ever-increasing pace of digital adoption in our country, the cybercrime graph is moving upward.

The National Crime Records Bureau of India stated that there was a 36 per cent increase in cyberstalking and cyberbullying cases in India post the pandemic. Among the top three cities to receive complaints around these crimes were New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, with school and college students forming 60 per cent of these complaints. 

Manav Subodh, Founder, 1M1B (One Million for One Billion) said, “We all must take the responsibility to create an inclusive and safe internet. 1M1B has launched the Digital Nagrik Campaign to educate and create awareness about netiquette among the youth.” 

He added, “In the age of digital technologies, it is not uncommon to wake up to news about some new development or innovation. Artificial intelligence and Web 3.0-based immersive technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality fuelling the Metaverse are being talked about as the future for youth skilling, education, and jobs. While the rising digital adoption in our daily lives is certainly commendable, it also carries with it equally significant cybersecurity concerns that we need to address.”

Here comes the role of Digital Nagrik, to safeguard students and youths from an early age and create a responsible mindset. It’s important to create awareness about the dos and don'ts of using the Internet. Our system needs to implement netiquette into our educational system immediately to prepare young minds for infinite possibilities. So let’s start early and get them ready to become responsible digital citizens, he said.

Digital Nagrik campaign will be implemented by 1M1B in partnership with various regulatory bodies, ministries, colleges, and schools to increase outreach. Celebrities from the sports and entertainment industries will also take the Digital Nagrik pledge and create awareness among its supporters.