Better Internet for Kids

Young europeans spend time on their screens for homework but also to chill, to game and to chat together. Some of them will even challenge each other and launch themselves into “impossible” missions. Challenges are components of their offline environment as well as their online life. Momo Challenge, Blue Whale Challenges or Jonathan Galindo Challenge are no longer unknown. Many young people are cautiously seduced by these challenges and try them in a safe way, but others rush into these challenges without realising the risks. Their popularity creates panic among parents.

Young europeans spend time on their screens for homework but also to chill, to game and to chat together. Some of them will even challenge each other and launch themselves into “impossible” missions. Challenges are components of their offline environment as well as their online life. Momo Challenge, Blue Whale Challenges or Jonathan Galindo Challenge are no longer unknown. Many young people are cautiously seduced by these challenges and try them in a safe way, but others rush into these challenges without realising the risks. Their popularity creates panic among parents.

Young europeans spend time on their screens for homework but also to chill, to game and to chat together. Some of them will even challenge each other and launch themselves into “impossible” missions. Challenges are components of their offline environment as well as their online life. Momo Challenge, Blue Whale Challenges or Jonathan Galindo Challenge are no longer unknown. Many young people are cautiously seduced by these challenges and try them in a safe way, but others rush into these challenges without realising the risks. Their popularity creates panic among parents.

Nowadays, many challenges are circulating on the Internet and Youtube. Challenges can be fun and exhilarating. Doing something that is outside your control or that your friends don't dare to do, it stimulates your adrenaline level. But what if these challenges are dangerous? Or if someone is under pressure from the group? How do you react to someone who carries out dangerous missions to increase his or her audience and popularity on social networks?

The main focus of Safelyonline project is the improvement of online medialiteracy levels among children and young poeple through the extensive media literacy education of their parents. More concretely, in the framework of this project, Gezinsbond and Child Focus (Belgian Safer Internet Centre) have been offering training to parents about the online media their children use daily. With about 150 training sessions every year, we are able to reach 4,500 parents.

Belgian parents are closely involved in the digital education of their children. However, less than half of them know what their children are doing on a daily basis, or how to assist them properly in their first steps on the internet. That's why Google, Child Focus and Test Achat are launching the Cyber Heroes program, which will be brought to Belgian schools by Libraries Without Borders, supported by a 350,000 dollar scholarship.

Belgian parents are closely involved in the digital education of their children. However, less than half of them know what their children are doing on a daily basis, or how to assist them properly in their first steps on the internet. That's why Google, Child Focus and Test Achat are launching the Cyber Heroes program. As of January 2019, employees of Libraries Without Borders will visit schools, libraries and community centers throughout Belgium to give workshops to children and their teachers.

SERIOUS GAME

To make the best of it on the internet, children have to make smart choices. Cyber Heroes motivates young children to surf the web safely and wisely. This allows them to discover the online world in a confident way.

Be cyber smart
Share with Care
Good news travels fast, but so does bad news. Children can end up in awkward situations, with lasting consequences. How can they prevent this? By understanding what they should or should not share with their friends and acquaintances.

Be cyber alert
Don't fall for fake

Almost every cartoon of the Vinz and Lou on the Internet serie has its own little quizz which enables the learner to evaluate its understanding of the episode through a test.

The game is supposed to be play by parents and children together to make them know their respective use and knowledge of the Internet : for instance, children are asked if they think that their parents know where the word "blog" comes from, and parents are asked if they actually know where it comes from. They can then compare their answers and adjust their perception of each other's uses and knowledge of the Internet.