Better Internet for Kids

Children are always one step further in the role of internet and social network users than we adults. At the same time, they often claim that they have sufficient information about online dating and security. But what is the reality? What risks do children perceive and what experiences do we have on the Safety Line? E.g. a common reaction is "I wouldn't just write to a stranger", but communication within online games, applications perceive safe "I write with a friend - a child who plays the same game". But is he really the one they imagine?

These supporting materials aim to provide educators with the necessary resources to effectively deliver lessons on critical thinking and combating online misinformation, while engaging students in active learning experiences.

The research Online World in Children´s Homes aims to map the environment of children´s homes with regard to the risky forms of communication experienced by their child clients in the online environment. In our research, we are therefore mapping the risk situations children from children´s homes face, what preventive measure the children´s homes implement, what topics they address, how they regulate children´s work on the internet (with regard to time limits, content restrictions etc.), and how children actually access the internet from children´s homes.

This guide helps parents to talk with their 6-12 year old children about three important topics related to Internet use: cyberbullying, sexual harassment and sexual abuse, and privacy. The guide was first budlished in Finnish and now it is out also in Swedish.

The three part video series introduces to the key themes of Media sex literacy for youth guide. The guide provides teachers and other educators relevant and researched-based information about sex and sexuality in the media 13-18 year-olds are using. The themes of the videos are sex positive media education, the role of social media in the sexual development of young people, and porn.

The Child Protection and Finnish Hotline maintains the Hotline service (Nettivihje service in Finnish), which received 3,439 reports on activities and material related to the sexual abuse of children in digital environments in 2021.

A video informing about child sexual abuse online and the Finnish hotline Nettivihje

This classroom activity lets the students collaborate on a list of wishes for their parents on how to have a dialogue about digital habits. Afterwards, the parents gets the opportunity to give feedback to students’ wishes, and the feedback is presented to the students. The aim of the activity is to inspire both parents and their children to have an ongoing dialogue about digital habits, where both parties show mutual respect.

The activity was published by the Media Council for Children & Young People and Center for Digitale Youth Care on Safer Internet Day 2022.

Nowadays children grow up surrounded by technology and develop from an early age the ability to be online alone. Today, more than ever, it is necessary to alert them to the risks and, at the same time, make them aware of digital safety. Thus, ZigZaga na Net podcast was launched in 2019, combining entertainment and education.
ZigZaga na Net is a Zig Zag Radio podcast in collaboration with some of the partners of the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre Consortium: National Cybersecurity Centre, the Foundation for Science and Technology and the Directorate-General for Education.

These cards are for professionals working with children. Cards can be used to increase a child's knowledge, skills and ability to recognize online grooming. The cards are targeted at children ages 9-12, but are also applicable to slightly older and younger age groups. The child's cards have the same image on one side as the adult's card on the other side and the subject of the card on the other side.

More information (in Finnish): https://pelastakaalapset.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/main/2022/03/03111224/nettivihje_kortit_2021_ohje.pdf