Better Internet for Kids

Online interactive show for secondary school students

Secondary school students are an important target group for raising awareness of safer internet use. Those beautiful, professionally-altered posts and pictures on Instagram, TikTok and other social networks can have a significant impact on teenagers, lowering their self-esteem and affecting their mental health. To inform young people about this and encourage them to think critically about the content they post and share online, Safe.si prepared an interactive online show, "The impact of the internet on the mental health of adolescents", in collaboration with the improvisation theatre company Iglu Theatre.

On 21 October 2021, more than 1,500 students attended live as actors Vid Sodnik and Juš Milčinski poked fun at online risks, as previously voted by students via a Mentimeter poll. Safe.si workshop teacher Eva Koprivec then discussed each topic from a professional point of view. A total of 32 secondary schools and some primary schools had requested to attend the show, a recording of which is now available on the Safe.si website.

Lecture on cyberbullying in schools for teachers and educators

Unfortunately, cyberbullyingan integral part of pupils' lives and is also encountered in schools. Teachers and educators often find themselves to be the first in line to help cyberbullying victims and address the issue. To provide teachers with practical advice, the online lecture "How to behave when I perceive online violence at school" was organised by Safe.si on 23 November 2021.

The lecture was given by Nina Babič, a school psychologist at Martin Konšak Primary School in Maribor, and PhD Benjamin Lesjak, Safe.si lecturer. Nina Babič gave practical advice on how to respond to different forms of cyberbullying, while Benjamin Lesjak presented the legal aspects and advised on how to take action in cases of cyberbullying. The lecture was followed live by more than 460 teachers and educators, who were also able to ask questions. A recording of the lecture is available on the Safe.si website.

Lecture on safer use of the internet in kindergarten

The last online lecture was aimed at kindergarten educators. As the use of screens and the internet becomes more prevalent, even in early childhood, children must be educated about the risks related to prolonged screen and internet use from an early age. The lecturers talked about how to include the topic of safe internet use in kindergarten activities without using devices and screens and equally shared what kindergarten teachers should pay attention to when using the internet and digital devices.

The lecture was given by PhD Benjamin Lesjak, who mainly discussed the legal aspects of using information and communication technologies in kindergarten, and Marko Puschner, Safe.si lecturer, who discussed issues around the appropriate time for children to start using the internet, the consequences of using it, and how to introduce topics related to safe internet use in kindergarten settings. The lecture was watched live by more than 80 kindergarten teachers on 1 December 2021, and the recording is again available on the Safe.si website.

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