Better Internet for Kids

Now that it's September and it's time to go #Back2School, we want to highlight the resources and activities provided by the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) for this season.

Whether it’s because of siblings or parents, or whether it’s a result of them starting school, children nowadays first come across the internet and mobile phones at an increasingly earlier age. But when is it an appropriate time for a child to get their first mobile phone?

Once again, with the start of a new school year, the Greek Safer Internet Centre has created and shared new digital educational material for students of all grade levels. The material consists of valuable tools that can be used in the classroom and for independent learning at home.

The largest conference in Poland focusing on online threats and safety will take place on 26-29 September 2023. Experts from all over Europe will gather to discuss a broad spectrum of issues related to the safety of children and young people on the internet.

CyberSquad is an online meeting place for and by young people. About 1,000 young people visit the platform every month for questions and issues around online safety, such as online sexuality and relationships, grooming, non-consensual sexting, sextortion or cyberbullying. No subject is taboo. Young people can share their personal experiences and ask advice from other young people, or help other young people themselves. In case of need, they can also chat directly with a professional counsellor from Child Focus. Two years after the launch of the platform, the organisation wants to make the site more widely known to all young people between 12 and 17.

Playgrounds are no longer just physical playgrounds. Children also gather online to play. Individuals with bad intentions try to target children online through gaming platforms or social media – this phenomenon is called grooming. Child Focus launched the prevention game "Ok Groomer" to teach children aged 8-14 how to deal with grooming in a playful way.

The Latvian Safer Internet Centre (SIC) has taken a proactive and creative approach to address the importance of developing essential media literacy and skills for children. They have developed a board game kit consisting of six engaging games, each dedicated to specific aspects of media literacy and digital skills.

This year’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the 18th annual edition, is hosted by the Government of Japan in Kyoto from 8-12 October 2023 under the Forum's overarching theme: The internet we want - empowering all people. The Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres in Europe contributed with a Day 0 event focusing on youth empowerment and participation, including children and young people from vulnerable backgrounds.

The SIC+ (Safer Internet Centre plus) programme is a collaboration between the network of European Safer Internet Centres and like-minded organisations around the world focused on keeping children and young people safe online. At the end of March 2023, the fourth and final webinar of the current round of the SIC+ programme took place, focusing on disinformation and fake news.

With summer in full swing, children often have more free time. As they explore the season’s wonders, we can encourage them to balance their online and offline activities, making the most of their time. While digital devices can be fascinating, we can encourage them to engage in creative activities that foster learning and interactions with others. Striving for balance will empower our children to enjoy the best of both worlds, promoting their physical and mental well-being, while making fond memories over the summer break.