How to make Europe’s Digital Decade fit for children and young people? A report from the consultation with children and young people
The European Commission aspires to put children’s participation at the heart of EU policies and initiatives while ensuring that children in vulnerable situations also have their voices heard.
Portuguese Cyber Security Challenge
According to the most common definition, a Capture-The-Flag (CTF) is a “competitive computer security event where participants compete in security-themed challenges for the purpose of obtaining the highest score”. The name originates from the outdoor game in which participants seek to find and retrieve a physical flag. This type of competition is becoming increasingly popular, with the number growing consistently every year.
Raising awareness of cyberbullying among young people with intellectual disabilities
BEE SECURE, in the framework of the Luxembourgish Safer Internet Centre, has published new educational material on cyberbullying for young people aged 12 and over with intellectual disabilities.
Towards more systematic media literacy, ICT and programming competence: The New Literacies development programme in Finland
Several studies have demonstrated that there are great differences among children and young people in terms of their digital skills. The objective of the ongoing New Literacies development programme in Finland is to strengthen the media literacy, information and communication technology (ICT) and programming competence of children and young people in early childhood education and care (ECEC), pre-primary and basic education. Saara Salomaa, Senior Adviser at the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI), provides an overview of its aims.
Latest helpline trends: Quarter 2, 2021
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 April to June 2021 and, unusually, saw a reduction in the number of calls when compared to the previous reporting period. During Q1 there were over 17,000 contacts made to helplines but only 15,733 during Q2. However, this is due in part to changes in the way that some helplines are collecting and reporting data.
Youth Panel 2021 in Vienna
As with many activities, the year 2020 shaped and – above all – changed our Saferinternet.at Youth Panel, operated as part of the Austrian Safer Internet Centre (SIC). Instead of inviting young people to our offices and discussing current topics together face to face, we spent many hours together online.
Latvian digital obstacle trail helps to improve students’ digital skills
On 1 June 2021, marked as International Child Protection Day for many countries, Latvia’s first digital obstacle trail was opened in a nature park “Tērvetes dabas parks” in partnership with the Latvian Safer Internet Centre (SIC) (Drossinternets.lv), the European Commission Representation in Latvia, JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” (Latvia’s State Forests), and the educational platform “E-klase.lv”.
Helpline services in Luxembourg rebranded as KJT
The Kanner-Jugendtelefon (in English, children and youth telephone), part of the Luxembourg Safer Internet Centre (SIC) and now available under the international number 116111, was founded in 1992. Over the years, the service has adapted its offer to meet the needs of children and young people in the country, and it has recently changed its name to reflect its evolving nature.
Social networks have a negative impact on teenagers' self-esteem
During the COVID-19 pandemic, teenagers spent a lot of time on the internet, and especially on social networks. In doing so, they likely came across posts from peers, influencers, and complete strangers showing idealised images of their lives and bodies. Such posts can have a negative impact on teenagers and their self-esteem. The situation among young people has especially worsened during the pandemic, as noted by Slovenian Helpline Tom telefon and Slovenian Awareness Centre Safe.si.
Cyberbullying during home schooling: new trends and challenges
When schools started implementing remote emergency teaching and learning due to the pandemic, and teaching moved into the private space of children and youth in their bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms, a change in group dynamics seemed inevitable. Would cyberbullying increase if studying from home became the norm?
