According to Eurostat, in 2020, 80 % of the EU’s adult population reported having used the internet on a daily basis (more than 90% of adults in Iceland). Prague (Czech Republic) is one of the regions with the highest shares of daily internet users in 2020.
ICTs are valuable tools for the development of our society, however, their bad use can lead to discrimination and exclusion:
-The study “How Common Is Cyberbullying Among Adults? Exploring Gender, Ethnic, and Age Differences in the Prevalence of Cyberbullying”, demonstrates that adults have experienced cyberbullying 24% (26–35 years), 15.1% (36–45 years), 13% (46–55 years), and 6.5% (66+ years). 83% of young adults believe social networks do not do enough to prevent cyberbullying (Survey DoSomething.org).
-Haukur Gudmundsson from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of Iceland states “Hate speech could be easily found on websites and social media in Iceland”. On Czech Republic, The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities states that authorities need to intensify their efforts to combat stereotypes and prejudice against the minority groups most exposed to hate speech”.
-In Iceland 35% of women under domestic violence were immigrants (Womens’s Shelter, 2018)”. The Ministry of Interior in Spain recorded in 2017 and 2018, 1419 and 1598 hate crimes accordingly. Cyberbullying, Hate Speech and Hate Crime are repelled visible actions in our society. However, adult communities are not aware of the origin that leads to this: Digital Wounds.
Digital Wounds is a phenomenon normalized in our adult communities which threats their safety, mental health and well- being. The lack of adults’ capacities in the proper and ethical use of ICTs, as well as the lack of awareness of the Digital Wounds consequences, are some urgent needs to be tackled.
Digital Wounds are dangers for the cohesion of a democratic society, the protection of human rights and the rule of law.
They are a menace to democratic values, social stability and peace. In this sense, Digital Wounds are an extreme form of intolerance and exclusion which can lead to physical violence and crime.
“Digital competence is 1 of the 8 key competences which are fundamental for individuals in a knowledge-based society. It is also key for all to understand how to be safe online” European Commission (EC).