Better Internet for Kids

Recent national studies were used to spark discussion on media use, including: 

• National recommendations for the recreational use of digital devices for ages 0-13 by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Finnish National Agency for Education;
• Young people and cyberbullying 2025 by the Mannerheim League for Children Welfare);
• Children and youth media survey 2025 by the National Audiovisual Institute (in Finnish);
• It happens all the time - 11–17-year-olds’ experiences of online sexual violence and peer-to-peer sexting by Save the Children Finland (in Finnish). 

One of the main events of Media Literacy Week was an evening webinar for parents and caregivers of children between 6 and 13 years old. The webinar was organised in cooperation with the Finnish Safer Internet Centre, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and the Finnish National Agency for Education. The primary aim was to introduce the new national digital recommendations, and to provide support for media education at home. 

Nearly 4,500 parents and other interested participants registered for the webinar, and approximately 1,500 attended the live event. All registered participants will receive access to a subtitled recording. 

Parents and caregivers were able to submit questions in advance, and during the event an open chat allowed further questions and discussion with the organisers and other participants. 

One of the main topics discussed was how to draw a line between school-related and leisure screen time. Many parents felt that this distinction was artificial, as a child’s total workload accumulates over the entire day. While some considered school-related screen use justified as a learning tool, there was also concern that digital learning materials and school-provided devices inevitably increase overall screen time. Overall, parents and caregivers expressed greater concern about content than about screen time alone. They also emphasised the importance of their own example, spending time together, and strengthening a sense of community. 

Feedback from the event was very positive, with participants giving it an overall rating of 9.1 (on a scale of 4 to 10). 

In total, dozens of new materials and activities were published during Media Literacy Week in cooperation with more than 40 national organisations. Most of these organisations contributed a topical article to the annual collection of articles (in Finnish). In addition, 2,850 professionals – including early childhood educators, teachers, librarians, and youth workers – received the theme week newsletters and have used or plan to use the resources in their work. 

Although Safer Internet Day and Media Literacy Week are very important annual events, the Finnish Safer Internet Centre encourages ongoing discussion of these themes throughout the year. Find out more about Media Literacy Week in Finland.

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