On Safer Internet Day 2022, the Croatian Safer Internet Centre (SIC) organised various activities for experts, parents and children regarding safe internet use. The estimated number of participants in all activities combined was 38161 and it includes the number of participants in the live online event.  This year’s focus was on the presentation on the results of the project deSHAME Croatia – the first systematic international research on high-risk behaviours of high school students and on the exposure to harmful content and sexual harassment in the online environment.  

The findings were illustrated during the online event “The role of experts in the field of risky behaviours of children and youth on the internet”.  From September to December 2021, the research was conducted on a sample of 2016 high school students by the Croatian SIC and partners.  

In addition, the Croatian SIC filmed six short webinars for media experts addressing topics such as sexting, hate speech, screen addiction prevention, sharenting, fake news, and privacy protection.  

The Croation SIC also produced a podcast for parents in which the SIC President and a young volunteer participated. Some of the topics they discussed were how to recognise that a child could be in danger online, when to start using social networks, how to protect children and young people online, how to play games responsibly. 

Additionally, an online quiz was designed for children and young people. Ten lucky contestants – who solved the quiz with 80 per cent or more correct answers – were rewarded. 

The panel discussion "Be in control behind the keyboard and console" was organised with local influencers and the Influencer Academy was presented. The participants talked about what would be important for an influencer or aspiring influencer to be educated about, such as the responsibility they have towards young people who follow them online, and how to deal with hate speech. 

Moreover, the Croation SIC prepared an educational package for parents and educators and collected workshops material that will become a knowledge hub. 

As a result of the presentation of the findings of the deSHAME Croatia research, media outlets were also invited to raise awareness on the topic and the celebration of Safer Internet Day. 

The activities and events organised around Safer Internet Day 2022 were mentioned in 48 articles on Croatian web news portals, nine tv reports, four newspaper articles and four radio reports. 

Find out more about Safer Internet Day in Croatia. Alternatively, find out more about the work of the Croatian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.