Better Internet for Kids

The new school year is well underway in many parts of the world, and parents may be inclined to share news and photos of their star pupil's success or involvement in new activities. Before you do, however, know that teens around the world say parents share (or "sharent") too much about them on social media – so much so that it's become a concern for more than four in 10.

Safer Internet Day (SID) 2020 is fast approaching. On Tuesday, 11 February 2020, we will be millions around the globe, united to inspire positive change online. The campaign's slogan, "Together for a better internet", is a call to action for all stakeholders to join together and play their part in creating a better internet for everyone. A fundamental objective of the day is to engage all stakeholders in a concerted effort to encourage respectful interactions online, especially among the youngest users.

Online communication has become our primary means of communication. While one might enter into lengthy debates about the consequences this has on society, it is undeniable that such communication tools have had an impact on us. The Maltese Safer Internet Centre (SIC) has developed guidelines for social media targeted to educators.

It is a well-known fact that media and technology have transformed our lives. For some of us adults, it may even be hard to remember the pre-smartphone age. In this context, it is easy to feel overwhelmed faced with the considerable amount of time children and young people can sometimes spend online. Dunstan Hamilton, Education Officer for Personal, Social and Career Development (PSCD) at the Maltese Safer Internet Centre (SIC), reflects on the topic.

Dunstan Hamilton, Education Officer for Personal, Social and Career Development (PSCD) at the Maltese Safer Internet Centre (SIC), explores how digital means of communicating are transforming family relationships.

On the European Day Against the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (18 November) the two hotlines of FSM and eco within the German Safer Internet Centre (SIC) published an online guide about sexting.

There is a discrepancy between the prevalence of female offenders in child sexual abuse material, and the notably low number of cases against female offenders in the Swedish courts. There is a risk that society turns a blind eye towards an entire group of sexually abused children.

Out of all the issues related to children and young people's online safety, screen time – and the potentially beneficial or detrimental consequences associated with it – is probably the most debated one. Dunstan Hamilton, Education Officer for Personal, Social and Career Development (PSCD) at the Maltese Safer Internet Centre (SIC), weighs in on the topic.

In order to introduce young people to coding and to the digital culture, the French Safer Internet Centre (SIC) produced "Code-Décode", a set of gamified educational resources.

In 2019, the Convention on the Rights of the Child turned 30. To celebrate this, Portuguese Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Youth Ambassador João Pedro Martins took part in awareness sessions on the digital rights of children and young people in the Azores Archipelago, and shares some takeaways below.