The BIK Youth Programme is designed to provide young individuals with a dynamic platform to express their perspectives on creating a safer and improved internet for everyone. It aims to involve young people in discussions concerning a safer and better internet. The programme offers various avenues for young individuals to share their ideas, viewpoints, and experiences aligned with the three pillars of the BIK+ strategy to protect, respect and empower children and young people online
Discover the highlights of 2024, download the BIK Youth infographic by clicking on the banner below.
In the spotlight
Insafe booth at IGF 2024: Promoting a Better Internet for Kids and SID
At the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024 in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), the Insafe network once again showcased its commitment to building a better internet for children and young people. Located in the IGF Village, the Insafe booth served as a vibrant hub for promoting safer internet initiatives and fostering dialogue on child online safety.A dynamic presence in the IGF VillageThe booth, as in previous years, provided visitors with a wealth of information about the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) initiative and its comprehensive offerings. This included resources and tools for parents, educators, and young people to support safe and empowering online experiences.Spotlight on Safer Internet Day 2025 and the new SID mascotThis year, a key focus was promoting the upcoming Safer Internet Day (SID) 2025, celebrated annually in February. A highlight of the booth was the new SID mascot, co-created with young people from across Europe. This engaging and child-friendly character symbolises inclusivity, creativity, and the shared commitment to making the internet a safer and better place for all. Visitors were invited to meet the mascot and learn about its story, reflecting the collaborative effort of youth in shaping the initiative.Insafe delegation at IGF 2024 booth Interactive activities and engagementThe booth featured a variety of activities to engage IGF participants, including:Information cards showcasing the menAble project, a new initiative focused on addressing the challenges boys and young men face online, such as mental health, online grooming, and harmful content. These cards offered concise insights into the project's goals and actionable recommendations for stakeholders.Promotional materials such as flyers, posters, and stickers featuring the SID mascot and BIK branding.Live demonstrations of BIK tools and resources, showcasing how they can be used to tackle challenges like cyberbullying, sextortion, and online exploitation.The team also encouraged discussions on youth participation, emphasising the importance of empowering young people as active contributors to the digital world.A truly global gatheringIGF 2024 brought together participants from across the globe, representing a diverse range of countries, cultures, and perspectives. Policymakers, educators, civil society organisations, and tech industry leaders converged to address pressing issues in digital governance. The Insafe booth provided a welcoming space for this international audience, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration to promote safer internet practices worldwide.Insafe delegation at the booth of the Australian government A platform for networking and advocacyThe booth offered opportunities for stakeholders to connect and exchange ideas on advancing safer internet practices globally. It also highlighted the collective impact of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) in implementing national initiatives under the BIK framework.Looking aheadAs IGF 2024 drew attention to critical issues in digital governance, the Insafe booth underscored the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure children’s rights are protected online. The introduction of the SID mascot exemplifies how collaborative, youth-centred initiatives can inspire action and raise awareness.Image - Insafe delegation at the booth of the Australian government For more information about Better Internet for Kids, Safer Internet Day, and ongoing initiatives, visit the Better Internet for Kids portal.
Insafe booth at IGF 2024: Promoting a Better Internet for Kids and SID
At the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024 in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), the Insafe network once again showcased its commitment to building a better internet for children and young people. Located in the IGF Village, the Insafe booth served as a vibrant hub for promoting safer internet initiatives and fostering dialogue on child online safety.A dynamic presence in the IGF VillageThe booth, as in previous years, provided visitors with a wealth of information about the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) initiative and its comprehensive offerings. This included resources and tools for parents, educators, and young people to support safe and empowering online experiences.Spotlight on Safer Internet Day 2025 and the new SID mascotThis year, a key focus was promoting the upcoming Safer Internet Day (SID) 2025, celebrated annually in February. A highlight of the booth was the new SID mascot, co-created with young people from across Europe. This engaging and child-friendly character symbolises inclusivity, creativity, and the shared commitment to making the internet a safer and better place for all. Visitors were invited to meet the mascot and learn about its story, reflecting the collaborative effort of youth in shaping the initiative.Insafe delegation at IGF 2024 booth Interactive activities and engagementThe booth featured a variety of activities to engage IGF participants, including:Information cards showcasing the menAble project, a new initiative focused on addressing the challenges boys and young men face online, such as mental health, online grooming, and harmful content. These cards offered concise insights into the project's goals and actionable recommendations for stakeholders.Promotional materials such as flyers, posters, and stickers featuring the SID mascot and BIK branding.Live demonstrations of BIK tools and resources, showcasing how they can be used to tackle challenges like cyberbullying, sextortion, and online exploitation.The team also encouraged discussions on youth participation, emphasising the importance of empowering young people as active contributors to the digital world.A truly global gatheringIGF 2024 brought together participants from across the globe, representing a diverse range of countries, cultures, and perspectives. Policymakers, educators, civil society organisations, and tech industry leaders converged to address pressing issues in digital governance. The Insafe booth provided a welcoming space for this international audience, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration to promote safer internet practices worldwide.Insafe delegation at the booth of the Australian government A platform for networking and advocacyThe booth offered opportunities for stakeholders to connect and exchange ideas on advancing safer internet practices globally. It also highlighted the collective impact of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) in implementing national initiatives under the BIK framework.Looking aheadAs IGF 2024 drew attention to critical issues in digital governance, the Insafe booth underscored the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure children’s rights are protected online. The introduction of the SID mascot exemplifies how collaborative, youth-centred initiatives can inspire action and raise awareness.Image - Insafe delegation at the booth of the Australian government For more information about Better Internet for Kids, Safer Internet Day, and ongoing initiatives, visit the Better Internet for Kids portal.
Youth leading the way to Safer Internet Forum: BIK Youth, International Panel, and SIF YAG in action
Three key youth-driven groups - the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Youth Panel, the newly introduced International Panel, which includes participants from non-EU countries, and the Safer Internet Forum Youth Advisory Group (SIF YAG) - are actively shaping the event.The Youth Panel, now consisting of 41 young people aged 12 to 19 from 22 European countries, along with participants from Albania, Armenia, Brazil, Ghana, Turkey, the UK, and Ukraine, has been meeting regularly since September. These dedicated young participants come together to engage in productive discussions and debates. In their most recent session, for example, they focused on harmful online content and its effects on mental health, internet safety, and raising awareness.Meanwhile, the SIF YAG, a group of six young individuals representing six EU countries, is diligently preparing for this year’s Forum, themed “Where’s the harm? Protecting children and young people from inappropriate content and cyberbullying.” Their primary focus is on selecting event speakers and shaping the sessions to ensure the Forum delivers insightful and inspiring discussions that address the concerns of today’s youth in the rapidly evolving digital world.By actively involving young people in the event’s planning and execution, the Forum aims to create a safer, more informed, and inclusive online environment for everyone.To stay updated on youth activities related to the Better Internet for Kids agenda across Europe, visit the BIK Youth section on the BIK platform. Learn more about the Safer Internet Forum 2024 and secure your online spot now!
Giving young people a voice
With the government's support, a hundred teenagers from scouting associations, secondary schools and public and private colleges were invited to the Ministry of Industry and Finance on Tuesday, 7 February 2023, to speak publicly about their wishes to improve their lives online. Their speeches, prepared in advance with the French Safer Internet Centre, followed the campaign theme "What are our children doing online? And tomorrow?" and raised the young people's questions according to the three verbs "To inform, to communicate, to be entertained". To answer their questions, they were faced with Former Minister François Bayrou, Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Telecommunications, and Charlotte Caubel, Secretary of State for Children, as well as a hundred representatives of social media platforms (like TikTok, Twitter, Meta and so on), the video game industry, GAFAM and the press.What have we learned from this new format?Giving this generation a voice is essential, but it also requires adults to be ready to listen to the young generation and respond honestly and frankly. Listening to and publicly acknowledging the anger, frustration and disagreement of these teenagers when confronted with tools or services that sometimes cause them to experience injustice and violence is not easy in a world where the voice of industry is very powerful and where policymakers struggle to implement responses to protect them. Such experience is important for confronting the limits and the discourses of adults and professionals in the sector. As an actor mandated by the European Commission to protect minors online, we have affirmed our role through this experience and are enthusiastic to go beyond next year. Find more information about the work of the French Safer Internet Centre, including their awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
Youth panel unravels the mysteries of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
On Tuesday, 6 February 2024, during the Safer Internet Day celebrations in Portugal, I discovered interesting aspects of artificial intelligence such as:What is AI anyway?So, we hear a lot about AI, but what's the deal behind it? Imagine having a supercharged brain inside a computer. It can learn stuff, make decisions, and even chat with us. Pretty cool, right?Robot takeover fears?Some folks worry that robots will rule the world. Hold up, people! Robots aren't movie villains. They're tools made by humans. We just got to figure out how to use them right, and not "get used by them".Privacy and personal dataWith AI, our data is always under the microscope. It's cool for personalising things, but it can also be kind of scary. Let's protect our privacy and know that what we share online stays online forever.Bias and discriminationAI learns from data, and sometimes that data has biases. That can tamper with the decisions it makes. We got to make sure AI plays fair for everyone, and implement mechanisms against discrimination.Jobs and the futurePeople fear about losing jobs to robots. But guess what? AI also creates new opportunities. Let's get ready for those future gigs!Ethics and responsibilitiesAI is a powerful tool. We need to think and learn about the consequences of our choices. Like Uncle Ben from Spider-Man said, "With great power comes great responsibility."So, everyone, AI is mind-blowing, and it came to stay, but we got to use it wisely. Let's keep learning and exploring this digital world safely.Find out more about the work of the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
- of
Meet BIK Youth
The BIK Youth Programme provides diverse opportunities for engagement and participation. Young people contribute to several groups within the programme.
BIK Youth Panel
The BIK Youth Panel is a group of young people interested in online safety and internet governance topics. The panel is organised on an annual basis in preparation for the annual Safer Internet Forum (SIF).
SIF YAG
The SIF Youth Advisory Group is a group of young people in the driving seat of the annual Safer Internet Forum. It consists of 10 BIK Youth Ambassadors that have shown active participation at national and European level.
BIK Youth Ambassadors
BIK Youth Ambassadors are those young people who have successfully participated in the annual BIK Youth Panel and SIF and are willing to stay in touch to further participate in activities under the BIK umbrella.
Youth working with industry
Some young people are consulted by industry to provide their views on particular topics to help co-design resources and materials.
Young people’s voice
Youth participation is very important. My advice to young people would be to use the mechanisms that are available, such as youth groups to voice their opinions and concerns. From my experience, it really makes a big impact and positive changes!
It is essential to educate especially children in schools and let youngsters and young adults who are knowledgeable about the dangers of the internet share some experience and information about an appropriate and pleasant way of dealing with others.
Policymakers need to listen to what young people have to say! Young people should be allowed to meet and share ideas with policymakers and be included in meetings to give their ideas on future policies.
I think the main action that needs to be taken to make my digital world safer is mandatory education for not only youth at school, but also everyone else that is online. Everyone needs to be aware about consequences of their actions!
Upcoming events
international day
International Girls in ICT Day 2025
international day
World Press Freedom Day 2025
international day
Europe Day 2025
