The virtual world forced by the coronavirus pandemic will dominate discussions at a digital conference for young people next month.

The theme of the Digital Leadership Conference will be “Thriving in a Virtual World”.

The conference, the largest for young people, will include a variety of on-island and international speakers and will be held on an online platform to be revealed when youngsters register online.

The conference was organised by Cybertips, a Government programme run by the Economic Development Department to promote internet safety and security.

Sloane Johnson, Cybertips’ coordinator and a junior analyst at the Economic Development Department, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted how we conduct day-to-day tasks.

“Today’s reality of social distancing and virtual work means our ability to read and understand social cues while assessing educational, professional or even social situations, is more challenging.

“While some students are thriving in the virtual learning space, others are struggling with what is quickly becoming the new way forward.

“The two-day conference will be hosted on a user-friendly virtual event platform which offers a variety of tools that enable the speakers and attendees to engage and interact seamlessly.”

Ms Johnson added: “Bermuda’s students are using the immense power of digital media to explore, connect, create, and learn in ways never before imagined.

“A young person’s digital life doesn’t stop at the school gates, either. The online activities that our students engage in offer both remarkable opportunities and potential pitfalls. The potential spillover can result in cyberbullying, digital cheating, and digital safety and security concerns.

“That's why digital literacy and proper cyber-hygiene are more important now than ever before.“

This year’s keynote speaker will be David Pride, an American businessman and motivational speaker whose talk is titled “Crafting An Authentic Image and Personal Brand: Why the Online You Must Match the Offline You”.

There will be ten other presentations including one on how to be a citizen in the virtual world and one on the use of social media to improve community and youth entrepreneurship.

The conference, which last year attracted 800 pupils as well as their teachers, is led by a committee of youngsters from various schools.

Ray Jones, the director of the Economic Development Department, said: “The event promotes the safe and effective use of technology.

“As we all build our digital economy and continue to use technology responsibly, we will be well poised to assist the country as it recovers from the current challenges and rises to take its place among leading jurisdictions.”

The Digital Leadership Conference will be held on February 18 and 19 from 8.30am to 3.30pm and is open to middle and high school pupils.

There will also be parent and teacher sessions at 6pm on both days.

Registration opens on January 20. For more information and to register, visit www.bermudasdigitalleaders.com

For more information, contact the Cybertips team at cybertips@gov.bm or 298-7168.

Speakers:

A’ric Jackson, American leadership expert and motivational speaker – “The Secret Sauce to Virtual Connections”

Tameka Vasquez, an American strategist, teacher and social futurist – “How to Be a Citizen in the Digital Universe”

Ajai Peets, a Bermuda activist and social media enthusiast – “Am I a Catfish?”

Jamel Hardtman, a Florida-based Bermudian radio personality and communications expert – “Utilising Social Media to Improve our Community”

Deana Puccio, a UK-based American founder of the RAP Project and Author of Sex, Likes and Social Media – “Altered, Airbrushed and Unrealistic: How Social Media Negatively Affects Body Image and Self Esteem”

Detective Inspector Kenten Trott, the Bermuda Police Service – “The Law and You“

Katie Greer, an American online safety speaker – “Digital Safety and Youth: What’s New? What’s Now? What’s Next?”

Bermuda Economic Development Corporation – “Youth Entrepreneurship in a Digital Age”

Bella Richards, a Mix Bermuda artist and instructor – “Making Art Digital”

Bermuda eSports League – “The Reality of Virtual Reality”.