The online world can be a marvellous tool for one’s personal growth and exploration. It has created 
fantastic virtual platforms and meeting opportunities which one might never be able to live in person and has the potential of improving other people’s way of life. While it is a great tool to be used, it must be used with great care.

When exploring the digital world, one could also be exposed to extremely harmful content that may be damaging to one’s psychological and emotional well-being. While younger people tend to be more technologically savvy by nature, their lack of understanding of the consequences or awareness of their risky behaviour puts them in a vulnerable position with regards to to bully peers and online predators.

How to get help from the Maltese Safer Internet Centre

A four-member consortium came together to work on the European co-funded project called BeSmartOnline! to fight online risks. The Foundation for Social Welfare Services leads the project and works hand in hand with the Office of the Commissioner for Children, the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes at the Ministry for Education, and the Cybercrime Unit of the Malta Police Force to raise awareness relevant to the current trends and times we are living.

BeSmartOnline!, in collaboration with Supportline 179, runs a helpline for minors and families who struggle to deal with online dangers. Internet safety officers help minors with issues such as one’s overexposure of personal information, cyberbullying, sexting and online grooming.

No two cases are ever the same and internet safety officers handle each situation with care and with a personalised approach. The BeSmartOnline! team believes in addressing each situation holistically.

Interventions can take different forms, from one-to-one meetings with the minor, family members or other professionals, to raising awareness in schools when requested. From a technical point of view, some cases require a minor intervention, such as taking down profile pages, while others can be more complex. Regardless of what kind of intervention takes place, all cases are treated with utmost confidentiality.

There are always professionals who care and wish to support you and provide you with the right information. If you are in Malta, you can call 179, send in a report through the BeSmartOnline-website or send an e-mail directly to 179.appogg@gov.mt. You can also find the Maltese Safer Internet Centre on Facebook (@BeSmartOnline) for the latest news and updates related to the child internet safety.

The Maltese Safer Internet Centre urges children and young people to use the internet wisely, respectfully and to always be smart online, and asks parents and carers to be always aware of the ever-present online risks that your children might face.

Please note: this article was originally published in the Times of Malta newspaper and is republished here with permission from the Maltese Safer Internet Centre.

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