Better Internet for Kids

This study investigates the usage of social networks by children and adolescents, focusing on individuals aged 8 to 17. Through an online survey, the research aims to explore various aspects of social media use among young people, including frequency of use, types of platforms utilized, duration of engagement, and perceived benefits and risks. By examining these factors, the study seeks to provide valuable insights into the digital behavior of children and adolescents in today's interconnected world, shedding light on the potential implications for their well-being and development.

These worksheets serve as structured tools aimed at strengthening critical thinking abilities essential for navigating and combatting online disinformation, providing tailored exercises and activities suitable for students across various age groups. Designed to reinforce critical thinking skills in the context of combating online disinformation, they offer practical exercises and engaging tasks that empower students to discern misinformation, evaluate sources, and make informed decisions in the digital environment.

This report describes the media education provided to young people by The Mannerheim League For Child Welfare in 2023, youth participation and their activities in digital environments. The main channels of MLL media education for young people are YouthNet (Nuortennetti.fi) and the social media sites of YouthNet, lessons given in schools, workshops and media surveys. We met 7 113 children and young people in our media education lessons. We discussed topics such as online bullying, balanced media use, gaming, digital friendship skills and respectful encounters.

An educational guide for parents that highlights ten risks in the online environment.

The Internet can be
a „good servant but a bad master“.
Read our ten commandments carefully,
and if you don‘t understand something
or have questions, talk to your parents,
or call our helpline.

The Media Council for Children and young people developed a webresource providing parents with information on the three popular platforms Roblox, TikTok and Snap Chat.
The guides include short explainervideos on each platforms and explains what parents should know, if their children wants to use the platforms or are already active users.

Furthermore, it contains a question-generator, providing parents with specific questions to encourage dialogue between child and parent. The questions where developed in collaboration with children.

The Austrian awareness center Saferinternet.at inquires each year: Which social networks do young people in Austria use? Which platforms are trending, which get less important? The results are published with the Youth Internet Monitor (www.jugendinternetmonitor.at). The survey was conducted in December 2023. 400 young people between 11 and 17 years old were asked. The survey was published in March 2024 and is representative of the younger generation of Austria.

In porn, young people are confronted with many images and sex practices without them being categorized. Porn is also often one-sided and clichéd when it comes to body ideals. Adults are fully aware that porn is mostly staged films with cast actors. For young people, however, the images can create enormous pressure and give them the feeling of being "wrong".

The klicksafe quiz on porn myths helps young people aged 14 and older to get to the bottom of unrealistic pornographic content. Nine questions are used to playfully debunk porn myths and explain them in an understandable way.

Do I have to do it this way? How do I get rid of the pictures? Can I share the picture? Am I ready yet?

Young people have many questions and uncertainties about pornography and their own sexuality. With our info cards, they can get help with disturbing content, learn to recognize their own boundaries, reflect on porn myths and get to know good offers on the subject of sex education. Use the cards to get into conversation with young people or simply display them.

Läppä lentää / Just kidding” in an interactive mobile learning game aimed for children and young people aged 10-17.