ACTIVITIES :: Safer Internet Programme :: Projects :: Safer Internet Centres:: Youth Panels

Youth panels

The Safer Internet Centres set up youth panels which they consult on awareness raising materials and campaigns to be produced, as well as on Internet safety issues. On Safer Internet Day 2008 the European Commission organized a European Youth Forum where youth from different European countries discussed issues related to their use of online technologies.

See more on the European Youth Forum

Topics covered

Youth panels approach a wide variety of topics, all related to online usage and safety.

Some of the most common discussion topics are their online experiences, Internet as a source of information, risks and opportunities encountered on the Internet, the reasons for which parents, teachers and adults in general worry when they are online vs their own worries related to the Internet.

Topics such as cyber bullying, grooming, online gaming, creating and managing profiles on online communities, violence on the Internet are also approached.

Many of the youth panels are also expected to discuss and evaluate the awareness raising material the Safer Internet Centres develop in order to improve them taking into account the opinions expressed by youngsters who are part of the main target group of these materials.

How do panels work?

The size of the youth panels vary between 6 to 28 participants. For example, whereas the Czech youth panel brings together 6 youngsters, and the German one 9, the Finnish youth panel includes 28 while the Bulgarian gathers 25.

Countries such as Austria and Slovenia do not have a permanent youth panel, but they organize different panels with children from different parts of the country - from cities as well as from rural areas - to give the opportunity to as many youngsters as possible to speak about their experiences online.

Participants in the youth panels range in different group ages. In most of the countries the young people are between 14 to 18 years old. Some countries, such as Slovenia and Denmark organize youth panels divided into age groups.

In most countries youth panels meet regularly with representatives of the Safer Internet Centres offline but they also meet online. However, in Cyprus for example, the youth panel meets once a month and adults are not allowed to take part in their discussions.

In countries such as Germany and Finland the youth panels meet every 2 or 3 weeks offline. In the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovenia or Denmark the youth panels meet 3 to 5 times a year.

Visit the Dutch youth panel's website
Visit the youth panel dedicated page on the German awareness centre website

The added-value of the youth panels for the activity of the Safer Internet Centres

Consulting their youth panels on different topics gives the Safer Internet Centres direct access to the primary target group of the awareness raising activities and materials they are developing and therefore to their real perception of risks and opportunities offered by the Internet.

The youth panel contributes to the shaping of the Safer Internet Centres activity according to the youngsters' interests and needs.

In addition, the existence of the youth panel opens up new opportunities for the Centres to be present and heard in different national activities and events where the participation of youngsters is always appreciated.

In which countries are youth panels active?

Youth panels are already active in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.

The other Safer Internet Centres are currently in the process of setting them up.

This page was last updated: 13 May 2009