The most recent helpline data covers the period from July to September 2024. There were over 13,000 contacts made to the network which is a slight reduction on the previous reporting period, however during July, August and early September, many children in Europe are on holiday and some helplines typically expect the volume of contacts to be lower.
In the third quarter of 2024, INHOPE hotlines across the European Union (EU) continued their critical mission to combat online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The latest EC-funded Hotline Observatory Report showcases the network's remarkable efforts and underscores the urgent need to address evolving online threats. During this period, EC co-funded hotlines processed 552,617 public reports of potentially illegal content, a notable increase compared to previous quarters.
https://www.cnam.ie/information-for-parents-guardians/Ireland's media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán has adopted an Online Safety Code which sets out new binding rules that oblige video-sharing platforms to make changes to their services to ensure that users, especially children, are protected from illegal and harmful content.
Five years after she first took office as President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen was reappointed, and with her new mandate come new priorities. While the EC’s focus is far-ranging across many different topics that affect Europeans at large, there is a definite focus on the safety of young people online.
The Office of the Commissioner for Children successfully hosted the Digital Detox Programme 2024, a transformative two-day initiative for 100 young people aged 13 to 16. In collaboration with the BeSmartOnline! team, the programme addressed the growing need for balance between digital engagement and offline experiences while equipping young participants with essential life skills.
Last month, the Office for the Commissioner for Children officially launched a groundbreaking research initiative to explore the impact of technology on children’s wellbeing. This study promises to deliver valuable insights into how the digital age influences the experiences, challenges, and mental health of young individuals in Malta.
At the latest BeSmartOnline! Advisory Board Meeting, key discussions revolved around creating a safer digital environment for children and young people in Malta. Representatives from various sectors shared valuable insights, updates, and action points to strengthen online safety initiatives. Below, we share the major takeaways that emerged from the meeting.
Deborah Vassallo provided updates on the impactful work of the BeSmartOnline! team, including:
The main objective of this campaign was to test out an approach for running a Europe-wide media literacy awareness-raising campaign in collaboration with the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs).
Sammanfattning:
I Ecpats rapport om pojkars perspektiv på jämställdhet framkommer oroande attityder när det gäller jämställdhet och makt i samhället. Många pojkar anser att flickor bär ansvaret för sin sexuella utsatthet och de tycker att jämställdhetsarbetet har gått för långt. Dessa åsikter förekommer även bland yngre pojkar.
English summary:
Webwise recently received the Best General Media Literacy Initiative award at the Media Literacy Ireland Awards 2024.
Supported by Coimisiún na Meán, the MLI Awards aim to recognise and celebrate the people and projects that empower individuals and communities with essential media literacy skills. The winners of the 2024 Media Literacy Ireland Awards were announced on November 21st at an Awards ceremony hosted by Virgin Media. More information on the awards and the full list of winners is available at https://www.medialiteracyireland.ie/awards/results/
