Better Internet for Kids

In Italy, the Safer Internet Day (SID) 2021 event was hosted completely online and made available via live streaming. Students, parents, and teachers - the whole scholastic community - debated how to help younger generations through a learning process on positive use of the web, the technological instruments available, and their role in good and appropriate use of the platforms.

On Tuesday, 16 February 2021, the final evaluation of the competition “Production of student videos for the safe and creative use of the internet” took place successfully during an online seminar. The seminar was organised by the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus, of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth, with the support of the Cyprus Safer Internet Centre (SIC) – CYberSafety.

In an exceptional situation, exceptional measures are needed! This year, in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Safer Internet Day (SID) event organised by Media Animation, CSEM, Mediawijs and Child Focus (the Belgian Safer Internet Centre), took the form of an online inspiration day: #Betternet Inspiration Day.

The ninth national Media Literacy Week (MLW) celebrated a better and safer internet from 8-14 February 2021, including Safer Internet Day (SID) on 9 February. Several organisations designed and implemented unique campaigns to reach thousands of children, young people, and adults before and during the campaign week.

Online games are extremely popular with children and teenagers, often being an integral part of their daily lives. Nowadays, it is difficult to find young people who do not play games on their computers, mobile devices, or special consoles. Engaging with online and video games develops knowledge and skills in an enjoyable and attractive manner. Gaming initially allows entertainment and familiarity with technology but can also contribute to the development of cognitive and other skills.

On Safer Internet Day (SID), Tuesday, 9 February 2021, the Latvian Safer Internet Centre (SIC) organised nationwide activities involving children, young people and adults, encouraging everyone to create a better and safer internet environment.

This past year, we’ve really experienced how we, with the help of digitalisation, have created new and exciting opportunities in our everyday lives. Workplaces, schools and other businesses have been forced to take giant digital leaps forward. Lessons have been recorded and made available digitally so that students can participate in them afterwards, for example, if they have been ill. Youth centres all over the country have been digitised and offer online dance classes and yoga, e-sports, chats, and other digital activities for children and young people.

On Tuesday, 9 February 2021, as part of Safer Internet Day, an online conference was held in Cyprus with huge success. Titled "Together for a better internet", the conference was organised by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth, with the support of the partners of the Cyprus Safer Internet Centre (SIC) – CYberSafety and the National Strategy for a Better Internet for the Children of Cyprus. This year, the conference was held online due to the special conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking place in a very unusual context, the 2021 edition of Safer Internet Day (SID) in France mainly focused on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the daily lives of children and families.

The #martyisdead series and the documentary film Caught in the Net won the prestigious Czech Lion Award (Český lev). The recent announcement of the results of the 28th Czech Lion Awards brought awards for two films in which the Czech Safer Internet Centre (SIC) participated.