Better Internet for Kids

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.

The Portuguese Safer Internet Centre in partnership with Forum Estudante launched a new eBook - Parents, Children & Technology. The weight of technology in the life and growth of children is the topic that opens space to various opinions and points of view, not leaving aside the role of parents as digital mediators. It is aimed primarily at parents and educators but does not rule out anyone interested in the subject, including the youngsters.

The use of social media has increased sharply in recent years, but such use comes with some risks. The Cyber-Social Citizen MOOC describes the main social media to highlight best practice in their use to improve cybersecurity and help ensure user privacy. The online MOOC was designed based on up-to-date literature, social needs identified in the field, and data from recent research. The course is free of charge and is aimed at citizens over 14 years old.

Cybercrime includes various practices such as the theft of personal data, the installation of viruses and malware, the creation of fake profiles on the Internet (for example on social networks or to commit fraud), online fraud or cyberbullying.
One of the main difficulties in combating cybercrime is its cross-border nature. In many situations, it is very difficult to identify the origin of the crime and its perpetrators.

While the platforms that enable audio and video communication are nothing new, they have taken on another dimension in 2020 with the pandemic situation experienced around the world.

Cyberbullying can be seen as a form or extension of bullying, perpetrated via digital media, and is also an aggressive, intentional, and persistent behaviour. It can happen anywhere, at any time, and all the time.
While in bullying the aggressor is known, in cyberbullying the aggressor is often anonymous, there is a physical distance, the aggression comes through mobile phones, social networks and messages, which contributes to the complexity of the phenomenon and to the aggravation of the emotional consequences for the victims.

Hate speech is based on hatred and includes "all forms of expression which propagate, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, homophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred based on intolerance" (Council of Europe). Hate speech constitutes a violation of Human Rights.
Hate speech can have an online and an offline dimension, and in both cases, it can have serious consequences for the lives of people who are victims of this type of action.

Children and young people like to play. Play is a fun thing to do.
It also has a social aspect, as it can foster team spirit and develop certain skills. Parents often feel that their children spend too much time playing, but in some situations it can be the time that children and young people have to have fun, in addition to school and extracurricular activities.

The Internet, social media, and sharing or messaging are how young people communicate. It will always be difficult, if not impossible, for adolescents not to use these platforms. Since adolescence is a period of validation and personality formation where sharing and belonging to a group are so important, using technological devices and social networking is something natural for teenagers. Through the Internet, communication can be easier, there is greater acceptance in the group, and it is possible to create a larger network of contacts.

The use of information technology has profoundly changed the way we see things. We learn, work, interact, and spend our leisure time very differently than we did just a few decades ago.
The consequences of these profound changes cannot be all positive. It is easy to see many benefits in the use of technology, but we know there is another side to this equation, with abuse and illegality.
Cyberbullying, hate speech, grooming, sextortion, identity theft or online fraud are just some of the threats online. This ebook is designed to prepare you for them.