For Safer Internet Day 2024, nine NGOs from the Americas came together to launch an initiative focused on the digital wellbeing of young children. Leading these efforts was Power of Zero, an international non-profit organisation committed to ensuring the well-being of young people in the digital age.

A concerning trend among school-age children is the exposure to ultra-violent scenes (torture, beheadings, war scenes) on their smartphones. Alarmingly, 25 per cent of 11 to 18 year olds are engaging in this disturbing behaviour. These scenes, often shared on platforms like Reddit, Telegram, Discord, or even social networks like X (formerly Twitter), are part of a troubling challenge where young people test their limits by watching extremely traumatic images. These include footage of drug cartels torturing opponents, terrorists attacking, and torturers murdering convicts.

The annual Safer Internet Forum is dedicated to initiatives related to developing digital skills for children, parents and teachers, while also paying attention to the needs of vulnerable children.