Better Internet for Kids

Lockdown (-like) measures and social distancing, families in isolation or quarantine, schools in-between hybrid or distance learning – the ongoing pandemic and its dynamic development is challenging for children and young people, and also for their parents and teachers. Digital content and services play a more important role than ever before when children use and need them daily to stay connected with family and friends, to learn and keep up with homework, as well as to compensate for missing offline activities and cultural events.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is almost here – on Tuesday, 8 February 2022, we will be millions around the globe, joining forces “Together for a better internet”. How are you going to get involved in celebrating the big day?

Today is Data Protection Day, a celebration established by the Council of Europe whose objective is to educate the public on data protection challenges and inform individuals about their online rights and how to exercise them. The whole week, including Data Protection Day, has been renamed Data Privacy Week, to further highlight the importance of educating on matters of online data protection and privacy in the globalised and connected world we live in.

Today's children and young people are raised in a digital world where technology is an integral part of their lives. The presence of technology from an early age indicates they are connected online more than ever. Children and adolescents account for an estimated one in three internet users around the world. Therefore, a large portion of their everyday lives is spent online, including remote learning, online gaming, or streaming, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents of children aged 0 to 6 have started to think more positively about the effect of media on their child, as compared to previous years. For example, a large majority now believe that media can help their child with language development and math skills, among other things. Parents also see media as a tool to keep the child occupied when they do not have the time themselves, or as a sweetener when the child is bored. In contrast, parents are less positive about the effect of media in relation to online education. More than a quarter of parents of 5-6-year-olds indicate that their child’s performance in school has suffered as a result of online education. All this is apparent from the Iene Miene Media survey 2021 that was presented during the start of the ‘Media Ukkie’ Days (26 March to 2 April 2021).

Each generation is spending more and more time behind computers, and screens are now a part of daily life. The current generation of children are using smart devices for leisure as well as for schoolwork and socialising; therefore it’s important to pay attention to the things they are doing online. Catlyn Kirna, CGI cybersecurity expert in Estonia, provides an overview of the main concerns regarding children being online, and what can be done to help them.

Webwise, the Irish Safer Internet Centre, has developed a range of new resources to raise awareness of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill (Coco’s Law) which was recently introduced in Ireland. Coco’s Law has criminalised the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

As part of the “Interactive Conversations on Europe’s Future” initiative, seniors in Latvia learned about online risks and safety on the internet. From September to November 2021, events took place in 14 different cities across Latvia, organised by the European Commission Representation in Latvia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, and the Latvian Safer Internet Centre.

Only every third teenager in Latvia checks information before trusting and sharing it on the internet. More than half (57 per cent) admit they haven't learned at school how to analyse information and how to make sure the information is true. Of those who have acquired this skill at school, 49 per cent say that the information and knowledge gained has not been sufficient.

SaferInternet4Kids (the Greek Center for Safe Internet (EKAD) of FORTH) participated in the recent Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Together with Maltese and UK members of the Insafe delegation, representing the network of Safer Internet Centres in Europe, representatives hosted a workshop titled "Mind the Gender Gap OR Mend the Gender Gap".