The activities of the Safer Internet Centre through the #BoljiOnline (eng. #BetterOnline) platform have stepped up. The work of the counseling centre in Zagreb, located in the heart of the city at Gajeva 2b, Zagreb, Croatia (above the A1 Centre), will focus on providing support to children and young people, as well as professionals and parents in need of advice on safe and responsible internet usage, as well as in cases of cyberbullying.

The counseling centre's working hours are every working day from 8:00 to 16:00 CEST, except when the team is working outside of the office. In that case, experts will be available via the helpline at 0800 606 606.

The opening of the counseling centre was accompanied by a press conference attended by the Ombudsperson for Children, Helenca Pirnat Dragičević, the president of the Safer Internet Centre, Tomislav Ramljak, content creators Marco Cuccurin and Nika Pavičić, the brand manager, marketing communications, and digital business at A1 Croatia, Iva Ančić, and the director of corporate communications at A1 Croatia, Dubravka Štefanac Vinovrški. In the final part of the program, the microphone was handed over to the social worker, Ana Veočić, who awarded the LIKE FOR award on behalf of the Safer Internet Centre.

The entire event emphasised the importance of opening such counseling centres, considering that the Safer Internet Centre received 200 per cent more calls from citizens in 2023 who needed guidance to protect children from online dangers. Additionally, a collaboration with the MoodMedia agency was introduced, launching the first academy on responsible technology usage and content on social media – the Gen Z Academy. This project is supported by A1 Croatia and the Croatian Safer Internet Centre.

The Centre will strengthen its mission through the #BetterOnline initiative by collecting donations through the “Čini pravu stvar” (eng. "Do the right thing”) platform powered by A1 Croatia.

This article was written by Martina Nikolić, expert associate – psychologist at the Croatian Safer Internet Centre.

Further information about the Croatian Safer Internet Centre can be found on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) public portal, including links to their national websites and other contact information. Similar information can be found on the BIK portal for all Safer Internet Centres in Europe.