Better Internet for Kids

Nowadays children and adolescents are increasingly engaging with the online world, ensuring their safety and well-being is paramount. The internet offers a vast array of opportunities and resources, but it also presents unique challenges and risks, particularly regarding online safety and security. 

Immersing yourself in virtual reality (VR) is no longer just for wealthy tech enthusiasts. VR goggles are now available on the market at affordable prices and the range of VR games continues to grow. Today, VR goggles may not be widely used in the average household, but that could change in the near future. This article summarises the most important information about VR games and it provides information for parents whose children are already using VR today.

Social platforms have become integral to our daily lives, offering connectivity, entertainment, and information. However, the increasing presence of children and young people on these platforms has raised concerns about age-appropriate usage and online safety. Understanding the age limits set by various social platforms is essential for ensuring responsible and secure engagement in the digital space.

In addition to all the beautiful, interesting and funny content on social media services, there is unfortunately also negative content. For people in an acute crisis or even at risk of suicide, this content can be life-threatening. For example, if it reinforces the negative world view of those affected, condones suicide or even gives instructions for suicide. The German awareness centre klicksafe explains why social media algorithms reinforce the problem and how we can help those affected.

GILM (the Informal Group on Media Literacy) was represented at the “Media Literacy Matters Conference” in Brussels, by Sofia Rasgado (SIC - Safer Internet Centre) and Fernanda Bonacho (ESCS - School of Communication and Media Studies) who presented the Portuguese Multistakeholder approach for Media Literacy, with a particular focus on the next steps that this informal group on media literacy is ready to take.

The second part of the Portuguese multistakeholder approach for media literacy presented by Sofia Rasgado (Portuguese SIC) and Fernanda Bonacho (ESCS) at the Media Literacy Matters conference in Brussels on 29 February 2024 aimed to introduce its three main initiatives.

Sofia Rasgado (Portuguese Safer Internet Centre) and Fernanda Bonacho (ESCS – School of Communication and Media Studies) presented the Portuguese multistakeholder approach for media literacy at the Media Literacy Matters conference held in Brussels on 29 February 2024.

The Youth Panel was a dynamic and engaging discussion platform during the Safer Internet Day (SID) event in Viseu, Portugal. It brought together young people and encouraged them to explore their concerns and perspectives regarding artificial intelligence (AI). Young person João Brás shares his reflections on the day.

The Greek Safer Internet Centre SaferInternet4Kids of FORTH conducted a survey on teenagers (12-18) between November and March 2024 on the subject of online violence. The study revealed that over half of the teenagers have been exposed to online violence either as bystanders or as victims.

As part of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Quality Assurance Programme (QAP), the Insafe-INHOPE coordination teams are jointly conducting a series of 15 country visits to the national Safer Internet Centres (SICs) to better understand what is happening in the member states. The teams will monitor emerging issues and challenges, identify good practices that can be shared, and harvest the results of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) policy. On 28 February 2024, an online national visit took place with the Cypriot centre.