Better Internet for Kids

These educational activity scenarios, tailored for each educational level, are designed to help preschoolers and students understand the risks present in the online environment and how to protect themselves. Each scenario presents a moral story and key questions that teachers can address, recommendations, as well as activities that parents can do at home with their children based on the themes covered.

These educational tools are designed to facilitate understanding and cultivate critical thinking among students, offering practical activities and debates that address the importance of discernment in the digital age. They are used to guide the educational process, helping students identify and evaluate online content, manage emotions, and develop essential skills in combating digital misinformation.

The aim of this guide is to provide teachers, adults working with children and young people with easily understandable theoretical resources and practical application recommendations within educational activities, without the need for advanced technologies. In addition to statistical information resulting from sociological research conducted by Save the Children Organization at national level, the material presents important arguments regarding responsible Internet use by children.

This guide is addressed to parents who wish to improve their skills, knowledge, and parenting behaviors to facilitate a healthy and functional relationship with their children.

The guide for teachers "The role of critical thinking in combating online disinformation!" has two objectives:

•    Facilitating the participation of the entire student group in debates and practical activities to discover the importance of critical thinking in the digital age;
•    Educating students to identify fake and false news, manage their emotions, and know how to react when encountering such content on the internet.

This study delves into parents' perceptions regarding the internet usage of children and adolescents. It explores topics such as parental supervision, communication with children about internet safety, perceived benefits and risks of online engagement, and challenges faced by parents in managing their children's digital behavior. By gaining insights into parents' perspectives, the study aims to provide valuable information for developing effective strategies to promote safe and responsible internet use among young people.

The study represents an investigation of the impact of cyberbullying on children and adolescents, conducted through an online survey targeting individuals aged 8 to 17 who have internet access. The primary goal of this study is to analyze the frequency, types, and consequences of cyberbullying on young people, as well as how they perceive their own experiences and react to them. The results obtained will provide essential insights for understanding and managing this phenomenon in the online environment.

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.