Better Internet for Kids

Plans help to develop a more systematic media education and to make future actions and needs more predictable. It is possible to include media education in current plans or design a totally new one. KAVI has created a guide to start this process. The guide consists of questions that help to figure out what kind of aspects should be considered while planning the development of media literacy.

The topic of the podcast is how young children use devices. Maciej Kępka talked to Dr. Magdalena Rowicka, who is a psychologist, an employee of the Institute of Psychology at the Academy of Special Education, and her research focuses on topics related to the use of Internet technology, computer games and digital devices in general, including: research "Toddler on the Internet", which you will hear about in this episode.

This resource created by MLL of the Finnish SIC guides parents who are considering getting a smart phone for their child who is starting school. The material introduces aspects to consider and the necessary safety conversations to have with the child. Material is available in Finnish and English.

The Media literacy in Finland policy document aims to clarify the field of media education and describe the strengths, values and principles of media education in Finland. This document also highlights areas for improvement and the related social, cultural and technological development trends.

Finnish Safer Internet Centre coordinated the policy process in collaboration with more than 100 different shareholders and the policy came into effect in 2020. You can read more about the process here: /web/portal/practice/awareness/detail?articleId=5519531

This video provides an overview of the Finnish media education aspects, professional network and shared goals. The video is created and released by National Audiovisual Institute.

What are algorithms, and how do they affect our media use? Entrepreneur, instructor, and non-fiction author Harto Pönkä explains in the video what algorithms are and how they affect our use of media. The video also examines how emotional reactions on social media have an impact on our media use.

"Pathological content" on the Internet poses a significant threat, especially to young people. Violence, alcohol and drugs often feature prominently in these types of streams and recordings. We talk to Jakub Szczęsny, who, among other things, deals with the so-called "pathological streaming", about what pathological content is and how to limit its scope.

Someturva CEO and social media researcher Suvi Uski talks about the safety skills needed on social media and gives tips on what youths can do when they come across unpleasant behavior or harassment on the web.

This page has 6 videos produced by Save the Children Finland’s Finnish Hotline Nettivihje. The videos have information about child sexual abuse: identifying it, preventing it, reporting, and seeking support. The videos were made in collaboration with young people. After each video, there are tips for discussing the topic with young people.

In this video, professor and neuroscientist Minna Huotilainen talks about how children’s brains develop, how games can be beneficial for brain development, and what kinds of things children should learn before they start school.