SID 2025 in Belgium: AI in everyday life - what are the challenges for children and teenagers?
Each year, Safer Internet Day focuses on how we can make the internet a fun, safe and better place for all children and young people. This year, the Belgian Safer Internet Centre (consisting of Child Focus, Média Animation, CSEM and Mediawijs) focused on supporting children and young people using AI.
Two new ambassadors for the project MAX, the adult confidant for each child
Child Focus deals with six new cases of missing minors every day. Five times a day, this involves a young person who has run away. In 2024, Child Focus handled 542 cases of minors who were sexually exploited (non-consensual sexting, grooming, sextortion, sexual exploitation in prostitution). All these difficult situations have one thing in common: the child or young person had no one to turn to.
Macedonia reaches milestone in child protection: child helpline number 116 111 assigned to AloBushavko Helpline by Megjashi
A significant step forward for child protection in Macedonia occurred as the first children’s embassy in the world (Megjashi) has officially received the decision from the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEC) to operate the European child helpline number 116 111 for the first time in the country. Technical implementation is now underway.
Community, time for reflection, and educational balance: the experience of the Danish digital counselling helpline Cyberhus
In the Danish digital helpline Cyberhus, counsellors meet with children and young people daily. They need, for various reasons, someone to talk to in a digital context. Sometimes, it may be young people in particularly vulnerable positions who need a trustworthy adult to confide in, or it may be young people simply seeking a sense of community with peers to reflect themselves in. Some young people come only once and find what they need – and then there are those who return repeatedly.
Final selection bootcamp of the 2025 Cybersecurity Challenge in Portugal
The final selection bootcamp for the 2025 Cybersecurity Challenge in Portugal (CSCPT2025) was held in Gouveia from 11 to 13 July 2025. Throughout the weekend, 22 young participants worked together in teams during various training sessions and the solving of different CTFs (“Capture the Flags”, gamified challenges testing security skills), showing exemplary dedication and mutual respect.
Design thinking workshop
On 7 and 9 July 2025, the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre (SIC) took part in the design thinking workshop led by the “Innovation and Analytics” Lab at NOVA IMS, in Lisbon.
Joint efforts for children’s online safety: the 15th Media and Internet Conference in Hungary
The Hungarian Safer Internet Centre (SIC), operated by the International Children’s Safety Service (ICSS), organised its Media and Internet Conference on 11-12 September 2025. A wide range of speakers were invited to present their perspectives on how digital child welfare can be enhanced, to share insights into current trends, and to put forward recommendations.
Back to school in Portugal: national digital campaign against cyberbullying
Through synergies resulting from the Cabinet of the Portuguese Minister of the Presidency and the National Cybersecurity Centre, and within the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre, a national digital campaign against cyberbullying was launched in Portugal in autumn 2025.
Child Focus launches new online platform to empower young people against online sextortion
On 18 November, the European day for the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, Child Focus (part of the Belgian Safer Internet Centre) launched the online platform “Payboy” to shed light on the issue of sextortion.
“Your safe place”: a platform to support children and adolescents
“Your safe place” is a section of SaferInternet4Kids and SafeLine (part of the Greek Safer Internet Centre), and it is an online space designed specifically to support children who may encounter harmful, confusing, or frightening experiences online. It aims to provide guidance, reassurance, and practical support.
