Better Internet for Kids

While simultaneously facing the war in Ukraine, schools, youth centres, libraries and non-governmental organisations recently took part in the traditional annual Safer Internet Day celebrations. The Ukrainian Safer Internet Day Committee has been working all year long to reinforce the efforts of all stakeholders to bring the celebration of Safer Internet Day to each region of Ukraine.

On Tuesday, 27 February 2024, Maja, our BIK Youth Ambassador from Poland, participated in the Content with Conscience conference in Brussels. She was one of the speakers at the breakout session ‘Ethics of kidfluences, mom/dad influencers, and sharing’. She shares her experience and insights, offering a unique perspective on the discussed topics.

The Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), dependent on the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service, celebrated the 21st edition of Safer Internet Day on Tuesday, 6 February 2024. This year, the event was organised under the slogan “Together for a better Internet” and took place both in person and online. The in-person activities were in Madrid, where cybersecurity experts, government representatives and members of civil society met to address current and future challenges related to cybersecurity.

This year, the French Safer Internet Centre conducted a Safer Internet Day campaign focused on online responsibilities, with the slogan "Connected, Engaged, and You?". The objective was to raise awareness among the public about the concept of online responsibility for us, others, and the planet. This campaign led to the creation of school workshop kits, family guides, and a successful social media campaign supported by 19 content creators. With a reach exceeding 1,5 million people, they captured the attention of a broad parent audience.

As part of the #MediaSmartOnline campaign, aiming to spotlight media literacy actions across Europe and running in cooperation with the network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) and the Media Learning Association (MLA) within the framework of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) initiative, we are producing articles on a series of focus topics related to media literacy. This week, we’re diving into virtual worlds and immersive realitites.

We are officially launching the MediaSmartOnline campaign in three European countries: Czech Republic, Ireland, and Poland. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about all the media literacy actions and initiatives that are currently available for children and young people, and those who are working to upskill them (parents and caregivers, teachers and educators).

Short clips on social media delight young and old alike. Consequently, we spend more time on social media services than planned. Parents and youth protection officers are particularly concerned about the potential risks of social media usage for children and young people. One pressing question remains: what are operators doing to protect minors on their platforms?

Safer Internet Day 2024 stood out as a pivotal event in February for the safer internet programme and the entire Save the Children organisation in Romania. During a SID event, the latest sociological research findings were released aimed at understanding parents' perspectives on their children's online activity. This research delved into parents' awareness of their children's internet usage and their familiarity with relevant software and applications.

In Turkey, Safer Internet Day 2024 celebrations took place at the headquarters of BTK (the Information and Communication Technologies Authority). Under the themes Together for a better internet and Safe is beautiful, the initiative sought to raise awareness on online safety for children and youth, fostering a more ethical, safe, and secure digital landscape.

On Tuesday, 6 February 2024, the Maltese Safer Internet Centre celebrated Safer Internet Day 2024 under the theme Together for a better internet. The increasing prevalence of cyberbullying and other online risks underscored the critical need for collaborative efforts to create a safer online environment. Additionally, members of the public were invited to join the celebration and actively participate in the planned events, reinforcing the message that collectively, we can build a safer and more responsible digital space for all.