Page 74 - PR COMMUNICATION AGE July - December 2020

Online experience improves in India

driven by teenagers, Microsoft says

I ndians had better online Some of the online risks like hate Moreover, 38% of respondents in India

said online civility was better during the
speech has witnessed a two-fold
experiences in 2020 with
teenagers driving the positive
pandemic, while 22% cited online
increase from 2016 to 26%; hoaxes,
change, according to findings
from Microsoft's 2020 Digital Civility scams, and frauds have surged 5% civility as worse due to greater spread
since 2017 to 22%; and discrimination
of false and misleading information
Index (DCI) survey. has risen 6% since 2016 to 16%, as per and more personal attacks or negative
the report. comments, the report noted.
India's online civility score improved
three points to 68 in 2020, indicating Microsoft has been conducting the DCI "The risks faced by online users are also
fewer people experienced negative survey for the past five years. The increasingly anonymous and recent,
online interactions or encountered latest instalment, completed in April to with 20% of Indian respondents
online risks. Teenagers scored 67 in the May 2020, surveyed over 16,000 reporting an online risk experienced in
measure of online civility, as opposed adults and teenagers (aged 13-16) in the past week, and 47% saying that
to adults at 69 (a lower score indicates 32 countries, including 502 the risk they experienced came from
better online civility), a survey report
respondents from India. strangers online," it added.
noted.

"It's heartening to see our next India was ranked 18th among the 32 Additionally, nearly four out of ten
generation take the lead in driving geographies surveyed, and people said they were involved in a
positive interactions online, and to Netherlands had the best DCI score of bullying incident and 21% said they
witness digital citizens come together 51, followed by the U.K with 55, and were the target of bullying. While, 13%
to uplift online communities during the the U.S. at 56. of the adults said they were bullied or
pandemic," KeshavDhakad, Group harassed at work.
Head & General Counsel, Microsoft In Asia-Pacific (APAC), eight other
India, said in a release. "Nonetheless, countries were surveyed this year, Top wishes from India's survey
threats such as hate speech, together including Australia, Indonesia, respondents for the next decade were
with other uncivil behaviours, continue Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, for better safety (65%), respect (51%),
to pervade society, requiring us all to Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. India civility (41%), freedom (35%) and well-
take positive action." ranked 6th among APAC countries. being (25%), the report noted. R

National Library allows senior citizens

Senior citizens will be allowed to enter National Library. The authorities, while opening the library, had barred tose,
aged above 60 years and below 14 years, from entering the premises. Senior citizens, especially scholars who are
regulars at the library, had resented the move. On the rule was changed to allow the senior citizens.
K. K. Kochukoshy, OSD, National Library, said "We have decided to relax age norms for admissions during the pandemic,
accepting the demand of senior citizen readers." Library unior, Joint Platform of Action (JPA), secretary, Saibal
Chakraborty, said, "We had written to the ministry to allow the scholars."

74 PR COMMUNICATION AGE July - December 2020