Better Internet for Kids

The CYberSafety Youth Panel Cyprus enables participants to share knowledge and experiences, and to formulate suggestions and actions regarding the creative and safe use of digital technologies and the internet. The new CYberSafety Youth Panel Cyprus team for 2019/2020 is composed of members of the Cyprus Children's Parliament, which was coordinated by the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee for the Protection and Welfare of Children (PCCPWC), members of the Teenage Advisers' Group of the Commissioner for Children's Rights and students from the Young Coaches for the Internet programmes, under the coordination of the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute.

During the workshop, participants were informed about the European project Cyprus Safer Internet Centre - CYberSafety, the Helpline and Hotline 1480, the National Strategy for a Better Internet for the Children of Cyprus and the role they are invited to undertake in the framework of the CYberSafety Youth Panel. At the same time, participants had the opportunity to hear interesting presentations and suggestions from the Cyprus Safer Internet Centre - CYberSafety partners, to be informed by other children and young people about the actions they had implemented, and above all, they actively participated in workshops.

During the training workshop, participants were able to discuss with a well-known Cypriot actor, Andreas Filachtou, about the phenomenon of cyberbullying and the role they are expected to play in order to address it. In particular, Andreas Filachtou used the movie "Your Choice" to raise awareness of this phenomenon, and to highlight how important it is for everyone to take responsibility and ensure positive changes in the online ecosystem. Additionally, participants attended the "For the Love of Data" workshop, conducted by the Digital Security Authority (DSA) staff, where they were informed about the protection practices of personal data and privacy.

Finally, the CYberSafety Youth Panel participated in group discussions and exchanged views and experiences regarding the creative and safe use of digital technologies and the internet, with the aim of preparing an awareness campaign entitled "Together for a better internet". Especially, the CYberSafety Youth Panel Cyprus prepared and developed a video inviting young people to join forces with them, aiming to encourage positive changes on the internet and enhancing its creative and safe use. The CYberSafety Youth Panel presented the video for the first time at the Safer Internet Day 2020 conference "Together for a better internet".

Find more information about the CYberSafety Youth Panel (in Greek) on the website of the Cypriot Safer Internet Centre (SIC).

For more information about Safer Internet Day activities in Cyprus, visit the Cypriot Safer Internet Centre's Safer Internet Day profile page.

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