Better Internet for Kids

Findings from 110 studies published in 64 countries point to the fact that digital skills play a key role for children’s and young people’s learning, participation and other opportunities. International research also reveals that the benefits of digital skills apply online and offline, potentially affecting multiple dimensions of children’s lives. There is also evidence that better digital skills can protect children from online risk of harm as well, although this evidence needs to be strengthened.

The Luxembourgish Safer Internet Centre (SIC) BEE SECURE is launching its annual awareness campaign focusing on the influence of images on the lives of young people. The campaign will communicate on four subtopics throughout the school year: self-reputation, self-expression, sharenting and sexting.

A new online training course entitled "Is artificial intelligence (AI) going to transform the school as we know it?", distributed in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) format and promoted by the Portuguese General-Directorate for Education (DGE), which is part of the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre (SIC), was launched on Tuesday, 20 October 2020.

The Czech thriller series #martyisdead, which focuses on cyberbullying was nominated for an Emmy Award, in the “Short-Forum Series” category, making it the first Czech series which may win the prize. The winners will be announced on 23 November during the 48th International Emmy Awards Gala in New York.

How can young people deal with cyberbullying when they themselves are affected? Where can they turn to if they do not want to confide in their families or teachers directly? In order to support young people in dealing with cyberbullying, members of the klicksafe Youth Panel have developed the Cyberbullying First Aid App in 2016. The German Awareness Centre klicksafe is publishing the app and the corresponding klicksafe flyer Was tun bei Cyber-Mobbing? ("What to do about cyberbullying?") in a new design and with new content.

Today, the Insafe and INHOPE networks of European Safer Internet Centres (SICs) begin a two-day joint training meeting online. This event is an opportunity to facilitate sharing of experience and good practice between the two networks and to explore areas of common ground and opportunities for closer working between helplines, hotlines and awareness centres.

All over the world, child welfare organisations are working to protect girls and boys from sexualised violence in real life, and also on the internet. However, the sexual exploitation of girls and boys rests on traditions stretching over centuries, and it was not until the 1990s that pedagogical prevention efforts were undertaken and began raising awareness in kindergartens, schools, counselling services and youth authorities towards providing timely support to children and adolescents (Enders, 1990, p. 11).

Humanitarian organisation International Forum of Solidarity – EMMAUS (IFS-EMMAUS) was established in 1999, with the aim of providing assistance to all vulnerable populations, including the victims of human trafficking, online sexual abuse and the circulation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The National Contact Centre for Children's Safety on the Internet was formed within the Smart and Safe platform by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications in 2017 in Belgrade. Through this Centre, the Ministry conducts counseling for children, parents, students and teachers, as well as all other citizens, about the advantages and risks of using the internet and safe ways to use new technologies. It is also possible to receive reports of harmful, inappropriate and illegal content and behaviour on the internet, that is, reporting a violation of the rights and interests of the child.

This back to school season, the Greek Safer Internet Centre (SIC) is launching two new illustrated books, "Athena and her new tablet" and "Athena learns about personal data", targeted to children aged 4-8. These two storybooks take in interactive approach to accompany children in their first contacts with the online world.