Better Internet for Kids

Small check-list to know if my child is ready for a smartphone.

When Glenn was 15, a nude photo of him was circulated online. Shortly afterwards, he took his own life. But if you call Glenn today, you're signing a petition for better protection for young people online. Call 0493 79 58 30 now, every call counts.

Gaming is a globally widespread and growing activity, with significant variations between countries. In nations with younger populations, gaming is highly common, while in Sweden, the prevalence is lower. As in many other countries, gaming is most frequent among younger people.

The report Childrens and Young People’s Influencers – A Focus Group Study presents the second and final part of a research project conducted by the Swedish agency for the Media within the framework of Safer Internet Centre Sweden. It is based on focus groups with children and young people, providing insights into their perspectives and experiences with influencers and influencer culture.

Research presents multiple definitions of influencers, with no single, unified description. This report identifies six definitions used in research and investigations. Children and young people follow influencers based on their popularity and content, and they may also act as influencers themselves or be influenced in various ways, including by parents who act as influencers.

The parental guide Is My Child Influenced by Influencers? helps carers understand how children and young people are affected by influencers and what research says about their relationship with social media. This guide is specifically designed for parents and carers and provides a concise summary of current research. It also offers practical advice on what parents should know to support their children in today’s media landscape.

Every year, on the second Tuesday of February, we celebrate Safer Internet Day, which falls on February 11th this year. You can join the celebrations by participating in the challenge "Together for a Better Internet" and making use of the newly released handbook. This handbook offers a wide range of tips and activities tailored to different age groups—from young children in kindergartens to seniors. It is designed for both organizations and individuals. The coordination of Safer Internet Day in the Czech Republic is managed by the national Safer Internet Center.

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.

ScamCheck browser extension

Is a website trustworthy, or are you dealing with a phishing site? Sometimes it's hard to tell. That's why there is now the ScamCheck extension. This extension warns you if a website is likely unsafe. You can easily download the extension. After that, you will receive a notification on your screen if you land on a fake website.

You can download the extension from the Chrome Web Store: