Remarkable traffic signs have recently appeared in the centre of Ghent, which should make passers-by think about themes surrounding digital dangers and myths.
The signs, with humorous images and texts, initially look like real traffic signs, but upon closer inspection their playful nature is noticeable. Behind this stunt is Kamiel De Bruyne, who has been attracting attention for years with his 'National Association for Useless Signs' by hanging up funny signs throughout the country. This time the assignment came from Mediawijs, the Flemish Knowledge Centre for Digital and Media Literacy, who want to draw attention to their new publication: *My smartphone is listening in on me, and 22 other myths about the digital age*.
internet myths
The campaign surrounding the book aims to encourage passers-by to take a moment to consider their digital habits and what they mean for their online safety and privacy. The signs contain images and texts that playfully address internet myths and pitfalls. For example, De Bruyne placed a sign with a peach and aubergine emoji at the Korenlei, which playfully alludes to sexting, and a sign at the Reep that 'prohibits' phishing, as it were. In addition, at De Krook, near the well-known Ghent library, there is a sign with a long list of 'terms and conditions', a reference to the general terms and conditions that internet users often accept without a second thought.
With this campaign, Mediawijs wants to make passers-by aware of the lack of knowledge about digital security and wants to dispel a number of persistent myths surrounding the internet and technology. book *My smartphone is listening in* addresses popular misconceptions such as the fear that apps are always listening in or that online banking is inherently unsafe. The idea that privacy on the internet no longer exists is also discussed and nuanced. In total, the book highlights 23 such myths and refutes them with clear explanations, personal stories and statistics.
With social media De Bruyne emphasizes the playful side of the campaign. “The book is full of interesting insights, recognizable stories, practical tips, interesting figures and dirty emojis,” he writes on Instagram. He shares images of the signs he has placed throughout Ghent. These signs not only attract attention with their humorous and often recognizable imagery, but also encourage people to think in an accessible way. The choice of emojis such as the peach and the eggplant is no coincidence; they are images that often imply sexual innuendos in digital communication and here they are used to address the subject of sexting.
absurd additions
Kamiel De Bruyne has long been known for his projects with the National Association for Useless Signs, in which he enriches the everyday street scene with funny and sometimes absurd additions. His previous sign campaign included signs that warned of “low sun” or a prohibition sign with the message: “No thinking about flamingos.” With his work he wants to bring humor to places where people most often walk or move, such as city centers and stations. He plays on the unnoticed obviousness of traffic signs, by providing them with a humorous and critical note.
The collaboration with Mediawijs seems a logical step for De Bruyne, who likes to focus on the theme of digital awareness. Mediawijs also sees this as an opportunity to communicate in an original way about sometimes complex subjects such as phishing, cybersecurity and online privacy. The organization hopes that this project will pave the way for a broader discussion about digital literacy and that these playful signs will make people stop and think about their online behavior.
With his unique signs, Kamiel De Bruyne gets an entire city laughing and thinking, and Mediawijs immediately puts his new book in the spotlight. Whether it's about sexting, phishing or privacy violations, the message is clear: digital awareness is important, but doesn't always have to be taken seriously.
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