Better Internet for Kids

Just as in the real world, young people will sooner or later encounter the topic of sexuality on the internet. It is important for parents to be aware of both the positive and potentially dangerous aspects of sexuality online and to talk to their children about it. This brochure is designed to help educate children about sexting, sextortion and cyber grooming, to make them aware of the dangers and to teach them how to stay safe and confident online.

The Better Internet for Kids (BIK) reviews of the year are typically released to coincide with Safer Internet Day celebrations each year.

These annual reports provide an overview of a multitude of stakeholder efforts to both protect and empower children and young people in their digital lives over the past year, when BIK has focused on making sure that young people are protected, respected, and equipped with the skills they need to thrive in the digital world.

The Austrian Safer Internet Center inquires each year: Which social networks do young people in Austria use? Which platforms are trending, which get less important? Are there differences between girls and boys? The survey was conducted in October 2024. 405 young people between 11 and 17 years old were asked. The results were published with the Youth Internet Monitor (www.jugendinternetmonitor.at) in January 2025 and are representative of the younger generation of Austria.

The Portuguese Safer Internet Centre has adapted the virtual game “Fake it to make it” into Portuguese. The game is targeted at teenagers and focuses on the topic of fake news and disinformation.

This is a simulation game with a social impact, in which players take on the role of someone who profits from the creation and distribution of fake news. Through this experience, players learn how disinformation is created, spread and emotionally targeted, preparing them to be more sceptical of information they may encounter in the future.

As part of a joint initiative between the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Youth and Modernisation, the national awareness campaign "Act. Speak. Change. Use Your Voice to Combat Bullying" was launched. This initiative is dedicated to the prevention and fight against Bullying and Cyberbullying in schools.

Portuguese version with IPDJ seal, from the Council of Europe edition, Alternatives manual is a tool against hate. This manual aims to help young people and educators to confront, dismantle and replace hateful narratives.

On this page, you can download a PDF with basic tips in 10 languages: English, French, Arabic, Polish, Ukrainian, Moroccan, German, Turkish, Spanish, and Frisian, created by Veiliginternetten.nl

Five basic tips for your online safety:

1. Ensure secure passwords for all your devices and accounts.
2. Always perform software updates on your smart devices immediately.
3. Use an antivirus scanner.
4. Regularly make backups.
5. Check links first, before you click them.

APAV (Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima) has redesigned its website on cybercrime, with various definitions of crimes that occur in the digital space, various prevention and security strategies and an observatory where we can post alerts on new trends. 

The website is available in the following languages: Portuguese, English, French, Albanian and Italian.

Are you familiar with the Digital Services Act (DSA)?

The DSA was created by the European Union (EU) to ensure that:  

• digital technologies and online platforms respect everyone's rights; 
• we can trust the digital services we use; 
• we are safe and protected, regardless of the type of digital service we use, with special attention to minors;

The PT SIC team developed a social media campaign to promote the DSA. Enclosed is the Facebook campaign.

Hate speech encompasses all forms of expression that propagate, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, homophobia, antisemitism and other forms of hatred based on intolerance. This video was produced by IPDJ as part of its activities, as a pedagogical resource to raise awareness among young people, youth associations, educators and youth workers.