In the midst of the huge information revolution, which formed another virtual society that extends bridges around the world with a family, as the distances decrease and gather, in which visions and problems differ, and even there are cybercrimes, which have become a source of sleeplessness for the countries of the first world despite these enormous technologies that are unparalleled.

Wala’a Obaid, a young Yemeni woman, who was among those whom are accepted for the Youth Initiative project to combat disinformation in Yemen, says: Wala’a: “My digital background was okay, so that the matter turned into a very different form, and I became more cautious and careful in dealing with everything that is digital and I sensed the dangers of the digital world that are absent from me and from many girls and women,” she added: “After contemplation and going through the training course that transformed me into a conscious woman capable of dealing with electronic risks, I decided to start the turning point from our home, especially my sister and my mother, with direct awareness and discussion that took place between us until my father joined us, whose view was brief about everything that is digital & dangerous for children only, and the topic does not require great awareness in dealing as it thought by him, to correct his belief and discussed it in more depth and modified the prevailing concept.

Turning point

The controversy between family members was a turning point for her and made her more excited to benefit her female peers, adding: “I started from my circle of acquaintances with girls and women, and I created a WhatsApp group, made continuous awareness publications, transferred the knowledge that I benefited from, and responded to the inquiries of the members.” For the group, which was numbered 40 members from different groups and different backgrounds.

Awareness of knowledge

Humankind is a being that needs knowledge and awareness throughout his life non-stop, and each of us must sense our role and feel our responsibilities towards our society and our country, as she said enthusiastically: “I decided to spread the information that I have through a larger and expanded way, and I started from the idle Facebook Messenger group to re-spread hope in it and spread digital information and methods of protection Informatics and how to verify misleading information so that the number of women and girls became more than 360 members. I also corrected any information and we discussed it and clarified its dangers in society.

Positive stretch

She added: “To expand the circle of awareness, a special group for women and girls was created on the Facebook platform, which was numbered 1098, and awareness publications were made, so that the group will be a free platform that reaches to the largest number of women who struggle with the dark world and the fear that controls them due to the spread of the phenomena of penetration, phishing, immoral acts towards them, and the exploitation of the conservative society surrounding them, the customs and traditions that may be a killing tool in the event of falling into any kind of digital problems that may exceed their privacy as users in the digital world, which is black and threatening to their presence because of the look of shame and disparagement that affects many of them and pursues them, as it is limited to males more broadly, according to the societal view that allows them everything, even in smart devices and social media.”

Highlighting

I was contacted by one of the international radio stations after the spread of the phenomenon of hacking and blackmailing women and girls through the platforms concerned with Yemeni youth and women, which showed the dangerous side of such extraneous phenomena that destabilize public security, as she said, adding in a low and sad tone: “I was very upset about what was happening and often some girls turn back to me to help them, especially since hacking and extortion are on the rise daily, as well as the lack of a culture of using electronic devices in a safe manner, so she spoke in the radio interview about what is happening and the necessity of raising the awareness of women and girls, especially since they are in a society that instills fear and terror in them from parents and society as a whole and also from deciding to talk openly about what they are exposed to unfortunately. She also conducted direct trainings, targeting the largest segment of women and girls, and the importance of creating platforms that mean protecting them and activating strict laws to curb such abuses. “Through the training course, I became more able to protect my accounts on social media and safely use my mobile phone, and I was greatly affected by what this contributed in strengthening my confidence and avoiding anything that poses a risk to my data.”

There is no doubt that influence spread out, especially in awareness and enlightenment processes, and this usually happens during trainings that target women and girls and enhance their societal roles and contribute to limiting the spread of misinformation.