Better Internet for Kids

Safer Internet Day (SID) 2022 was organised in Denmark by the Media Council for Children and Young People in collaboration with the Danish SIC partner Centre for Digital Youth Care. The main goal of the SID activities was to create a mutual understanding between young people and adults about digital habits and online communities. Children and young people should not be left alone to deal with the ups and downs of online interactions. And most young people do want to talk to their parents and carers about their online experiences. Therefore, the Danish SIC encourages parents and carers to show genuine interest in their children’s digital habits. 

                     Members of the Youth Panel on how parents talk to them about digital habits. 

In the campaign video for SID 2022, members of the Danish SIC Youth Panel present a series of questions that they imagine parents and carers might ask their children. During previous workshops, the panellists noted how sometimes having conversations about digital habits could feel like an interrogation. The video was published on social media platforms and primarily targeted parents and carers, who may want to reconsider how they, as adults, talk to young people about digital communities and social media.  

‘Drop the interrogation – but ask away!’

The SID campaign ‘Drop the interrogation – but ask away!’ consisted of two short videos and a classroom activity. These materials were produced in close collaboration with the Youth Panel. The classroom activity lets the students collaborate on a list of wishes for their parents on how to have an open dialogue about digital habits. Afterwards, the parents get the opportunity to give feedback to the students’ wishes, and the feedback is then presented to the students. The aim of the activity is to inspire both parents and carers and their children to have a continuous dialogue about digital habits, where both parties show mutual respect and understanding. 

                     Members of the Youth Panel in an interview about dialogues on digital habits. 

Youth participation in Safer Internet Day in Denmark 

The Youth Panel played a crucial part in the process of planning Safer Internet Day. It consists of 28 students from an eighth-grade class of a local school. When planning SID activities, the youth panellists voiced their opinions on how parents and carers try to discuss online habits with teenagers. Some panellists noted how it could feel as if parents were prying or interrogating them when asking about social media or video games. At the same time, the panellists were aware that they could also become better at communicating with their parents and carers about their life in the digital communities. 

On 8 February 2022, the Youth Panel visited four classes at school and performed the activity with the students. The day was coordinated with the help of social workers and teachers from the school. In the four classes, the students had to consider what they wanted from their parents and carers, when it comes to having honest conversations about digital habits. The activity led to many different discussions among classmates, and by the end of the day they had prepared lists of wishes, which were later shared with their parents.  

On the lists of wishes for the parents, the students had noted such things as: 

• “Have you ever considered trying to play online games with us?”
• “Please consider that there will always be things we want to keep private.” 

The continued impact of SID activities 

Both the videos and the classroom activity have had a wide reach on social media, and the Danish SIC will continue to promote the campaign materials after SID. The Danish SIC partners are interested in hearing what young people and children would want from their parents and carers  when it comes to conversations on digital habits. Therefore, the Danish SIC encourages anyone who uses the activity material to send in their results, so that they can be used to inspire others.  

Furthermore, some teachers and educators have already used the two videos during parent-teacher conferences. In future promotion, the Danish SIC will encourage the use of the videos for other parent-teacher meetings. 

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