Better Internet for Kids

Back in November 2021, the Insafe network of European Safer Internet Centres (SICs) took part in a two-day online training meeting*. A key topic of discussion was the sexualisation of culture and of children and young people; a complex and increasingly concerning set of online risks that many SICs find themselves having to address on a regular basis. Similar topics had also been raised in a Deep Dive session at the 2021 edition of Safer Internet Forum just a month previous, where a panel discussion had focused on harmful online content, experiences and solutions.

Are you responsible for everything that you post on social media? Are parents allowed to post pictures of their children without permission? On Safer Internet Day 2022, the Swedish Media Council launched the brand-new material Lilla upphovsrättsfrågan.

The culture and environment, the medium of communication and how we perceive certain words and tones are all factors that contribute to how we consume content. These factors and more impact how a reader will react to a news report. It is therefore important that journalists and publications alike apply guidelines when reporting on sensitive topics, such as child sexual abuse and exploitation, to ensure that the story being told is not also influenced by subjective factors.

The month of February was marked by Safer Internet Day. With several campaigns and activities, the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre advocated for a safer, more aware and healthier use of the internet, with a special focus on digital identity.

Microsoft, the GNR - National Republican Guard, and the consortium of the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre celebrated safer internet month throughout February with various awareness-raising activities among the school community. Starting on 8 February 2022, Safer Internet Day (SID), the campaign for the correct use of technology among primary and secondary school students marked the start of this year's cooperation.

By making 2022 the European Year of Youth, the European Commission honours young people as agents of change and the bearers of ideas to build a better future. A future that will be greener, more digital, more inclusive and more peaceful.

The Greek Safer Internet Centre has recently released the paper "Surveying parental mediation and digital literacy. Were parents ready during COVID-19?", exploring the evolution of the online behaviour of children and young people due to the pandemic, and how parents and carers have had to adapt and keep up-to-date with new trends and technologies.

This new guide from the Finnish Safer Internet Centre (KAVI, 2021) provides teachers and educators relevant and research-based information about sex and sexuality in the media that young people aged 13 to 18 are using. It offers tools and support to discuss these topics with young people, gives examples of sexual education in the context of media literacy, and contributes to a neutral and non-shaming discussion about sexuality and sexual cultures in the media. The author of the guide is MA sex educator Petra Kankare.

The Insafe network of helplines collects data about the types of calls received and this is analysed every three months to look at trends, and new and emerging issues. The most recent helpline data covers the period from October to December 2021. This reporting period saw over 19,000 contacts made to the helpline network (a considerable rise on the previous reporting period) and continued the overall upward trend in numbers of people reaching out to helplines. There were over 67,000 contacts made to Insafe helplines during 2021 – the busiest year ever, which underlines the importance of the services they offer.

Fake news travels very fast. According to findings from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology research, false news spreads six times faster on Twitter than truthful stories. An overabundance of information makes it hard for users to find trustworthy and reliable sources and, most importantly, identify false and misleading content online. The Facts4All – School tackling disinformation project recently launched an online campaign with the aim of raising awareness of online disinformation, while also providing guidance on how best to consume online content.