ACTIVITIES :: Safer Internet Programme :: Events:: European Award

Quality content online for children

Promoting positive use of online technologies by young people is part of the activities of the Safer Internet Programme 2009-2013.

In 2009, a Focus Group of experts (producers and providers of online content for children, researchers, NGOs etc) established that giving children and young people high quality online content promotes their positive experiences in relation to ICTs. Research also seems to suggest that if children and young people have access to content aimed at giving them positive experiences online, it reduces their risk of having harmful experiences.

The Focus Group also established that there is a lack of quality content targeting children online. While in some European countries a high number of high quality websites and content aimed at giving children positive experiences online exists, in most countries there is a lack of such content, or if it exists, it is not easily available and not well known.

The European Award for Quality Online Content for Children – a pilot competition

On this basis, the Safer Internet Programme decided to follow the Focus Group's advice. The result is the European Award for Best Children's Online Content , which is being organised for the first time in 2010-2011. As a pilot, it is being organised by 14 Safer Internet Centres, and the first prize winners in two categories (adult and youth submissions) will compete on the European level.

Three experts have, together with the Focus Group, elaborated a set of advice to people and organisations who want to produce or provide online content targeted at giving children and young people positive online experiences. The advice is organised around the following topics:

Attractiveness to the target group of children
Usability/user-friendliness: keeping children's level of development and abilities in mind
Reliability: safety and privacy issues, including social networking and user generated content
Commercial communication and online shopping

The criteria for the European Award competition are built on the work carried out by the Focus Group and this advice document.

Download: Producing and providing online content for children and young people: An inventory