Better Internet for Kids bulletin

Welcome to the 36th edition of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) bulletin. This quarterly bulletin aims to keep you informed of safer and better internet issues and opportunities across Europe and beyond. In each edition, we bring you a mix of news, research and resources from many of the key stakeholders in keeping children and young people safe online, be they European Safer Internet Centres (SICs), research organisations, industry partners, policymakers or other experts in the field.

In each edition of the BIK bulletin, we look at a topical issue – for this edition, we're looking back at the main highlights of the year. 

One of the main highlights of 2023 was the gradual implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) package, first adopted in October 2022. We’ll look back on the progress made over the course of the year. 

Linked to both the DSA developments and the BIK+ strategy (and especially pillars 2 and 3 on digital empowerment, active participation and respecting children online), we reflect back on the recent youth-led edition of the Safer Internet Forum (SIF) and other activities to amplify young voices, and make sure they have the digital skills they need to thrive online in the European Year of Skills. 

As many of us head into the winter break, we bring you some seasonal tips for staying safe online, along with news, resources and upcoming campaigns from the European network of Safer Internet Centres and other stakeholders in the field. 

And, finally, we also look forward to Safer Internet Day (SID) 2024, which is now less than two months away. We invite you to celebrate this edition with us once again, wherever you are across the globe.

If you have any comments on this resource or would like to contribute to a future edition of the BIK bulletin, please contact us.

Image credit: Better Internet for Kids/Safer Internet Day

The European Year of Skills – which runs for 12 months from its start date of 9 May 2023 – aims to address skills gaps in the European Union and boost the EU skills strategy, which will help reskill people with a focus on digital and green technology skills. This includes helping people get the right skills for quality jobs and helping companies, and in particular small and medium enterprises, by highlighting national efforts as well as existing and new EU initiatives and EU funding possibilities with a range of activities and events all across Europe. 

The year aims to highlight the critical importance of equipping people with the competences they need to succeed in an increasingly digitised world, and seeks to support the EU’s ambitious Digital Decade plans for 80 per cent of all adults to have basic digital skills by 2030. At Better Internet for Kids (BIK), most of our core work this year has focused on digital skills for children and young people, as well as educators and caregivers, to ensure that everyone has the skills they need to thrive in the online world.

Keep reading to learn about our main highlights of the year...

In October 2022, the European Commission launched the Digital Services Act (DSA) package – a series of rules and regulations for online platform providers aiming to create a safer digital space for all users where fundamental rights are respected and protected, with some rules that are specially designed to protect minors online

The DSA sets out clear due diligence obligations for online platforms and other online intermediaries. For example, under the new rules, any user will be able to flag illegal content, and will also have a clear means of contesting platforms' content moderation, both to the platform and through out-of-court mechanisms in their country. You can access the full text of the DSA here (in all official EU languages). 

Since August 2023, platforms have already started to change their systems and interfaces as a result of the DSA provisions, to provide a safer online experience for all. You can read more on the impact of the DSA on platform providers here.
 
The Better Internet for Kids Team has worked, together with colleagues from DG CONNECT at the European Commission, on a user-friendly booklet which collects and summarises, in a few pages, the main content of the articles of the DSA that focus specifically on the protection of children and young people online. The booklet was launched at Safer Internet Forum 2023 and is available on the website of the Publications Office of the European Union in English, French and German; more translations will follow shortly.

You can access the various linguistic versions by opening the "Download and languages" drop-down menu. It is also possible to order printed copies of the document directly from the Publications Office website via the “Print on demand” service. Only production and delivery fees will be charged; the publication itself is free.

Image credit: European Commission/Better Internet for Kids

Another successful edition of the annual Safer Internet Forum took place on Thursday, 23 November 2023 in hybrid format in Brussels and online! Keep reading to see how the day went...

 Watch the video on YouTube at youtu.be/P09TWlf6kVM

With this year’s theme of Empowering YOUth with skills for the Digital Decade, the event focussed on pillars two (digital empowerment) and three (active participation, respecting children) of the European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+).

The morning included a keynote session by Professor Amanda Third, considering some of the key challenges and solutions of life online today, followed by a series of panel discussions including European Commission representatives, BIK Youth representatives, Safer Internet Centre representatives, and young influencers Kate Grant and Bianca Adam, as well as the customary interactive BIK Youth session.

The afternoon deep dives encouraged fruitful conversations among both the stakeholder groups present at the venue in Brussels and online participants respectively, with discussions around the skills that children and young people need to thrive online and how to foster digital skills effectively in different learning settings.

Once again, the event was youth-led, meaning that young people played an active role in the planning, preparation, and delivery of the Forum. By actively involving young people in the event’s planning and execution, the Forum also aimed to create a safer, more informed, and inclusive online world for everyone. Read on to learn more about the work of BIK Youth representatives this year.

Young participants leading the sessions at SIF 2023

Discover all the outputs from Safer Internet Forum 2023, including recordings, presentations and the public report, on the Better Internet for Kids public portal.

Image credits: Better Internet for Kids

Youth participation activities are at the heart of Better Internet for Kids, and this year was no different!

At this year's Safer Internet Forum, 41 amazing young people from 23 different countries joined forces to make sure their voices were heard. They formed two youth groups: the Safer Internet Forum Youth Advisory Group (SIF YAG) which contributed to the programme and delivery of the event, and the BIK Youth Panel which prepared a performance that aimed to inspire, empower and transform their digital experiences. These dedicated young people came together to engage in productive discussions and debates, tackling a range of topical issues such as child-adult collaboration on the internet. Read more on the youth's preparations for the Safer Internet Forum here, and watch a video of the young people in action below:

 Watch the video on YouTube at youtu.be/QyLjBA1LsdE 

BIK Youth was also present at the 18th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) held in Kyoto, Japan from 8 to 12 October 2023, with the overarching theme The Internet We Want - Empowering All People. As children's social interactions, entertainment, and educational needs progressively shift toward online platforms, one session focusing on prioritising well-being for children in the digital age and in digital design was hosted by UNICEF and The LEGO Group, which also included Better Internet for Kids representation.

Discover more insights on the IGF from BIK Youth Ambassador João, where he co-moderated two sessions: Youth participation: co-creating the Insafe network and YCIG advancing youth participation in IG: results from a case study. These sessions emphasised the critical role of youth voices and the importance of youth involvement in shaping the digital future.

The reach of BIK Youth voices didn't end there though as, later in October, ECPAT Taiwan hosted the ECPAT International Conference on child safety. BIK Youth Ambassador, Kathrin Morasch, a longtime advocate for online safety for children and youth, was involved as a keynote speaker, sharing her views on the BIK+ strategy, youth participation, and the European Union's rules for protecting minors online. 

Image credit: Better Internet for Kids

The Insafe network of helplines collects data about the types of calls received and this is analysed every three months in order to look at possible trends and emerging issues. 

The most recent helpline data covers the period from July to September 2023. There were just over 20,000 contacts made to the network, which is a slight decrease from the previous reporting period. It is important to note, however, that this reporting period covers the school holidays in most countries where there is traditionally a reduction in the number of calls, as has been seen over the past few years. Despite the decrease, there is an overall upward trend in the number of contacts that are made to Insafe helplines.

As usual, teens (aged 12-18) are the largest group who are using helpline services, and 57 per cent of contacts were from them during this period; a reduction of two percentage points compared to the previous quarter. This group tend to be among the most prolific users of social media platforms, online games, and other apps and, as such, can find themselves in challenging situations where they need to reach out for help and support.

There is a global focus on the impact that technology can have on the mental health and well-being of children and young people, and, indeed, this was discussed at the recent Safer Internet Forum held in November 2023 (see above). 

Read more in the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

As the holiday season approaches, many parents find themselves preparing to gift their children new technological devices. It’s important to remember that as much joy as your gift might bring your child, it also comes with many responsibilities. Here INHOPE (the International Association of Internet Hotlines) offers some hints and tips for families...

Whether a new phone, tablet or gaming console, every device connected to the internet comes with associated risks, and just as you wouldn’t let your children drive a car without a license, there are digital safety measures to be mindful of before placing an exciting new device in your child’s hands. On top of holiday preparations and gift wrapping, keeping track of safety risks to consider can be a challenging task. Follow the checklist below to ensure that your gift is equally exciting and safe for your child. 

Before the wrapping paper comes out, take the time to set up the new device. This allows you to explore and understand all the safety features available. Familiarise yourself with safety settings and install age-appropriate safety measures for your children. Don’t know which safety features are available? The eSafety Commissioner in Australia (who also coordinates the Safer Internet Day celebrations in the country) has developed a useful gift guide that breaks down what to keep in mind for each device, from smartphones to drones. 

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal which further explores talking with children and young people about expectations for technology use, education and awareness raising, and the importance of establishing open lines of communication with the young people in your care.

Digital stress instead of contemplative anticipation? Right now, it's good to give up your mobile phone for a while. As we head into the festive season, the Austrian Safer Internet Centre offers you some tips on how to do it. 

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

Video Games Europe (VGE) has launched the Seize the Controls campaign in the run-up to the holiday season. The campaign aims to inform parents about the tools they have at hand to set up the best video game play experience for their family. 

The campaign shares five key tips on the easy-to-use tools available to help manage video gameplay, including what children are playing, who they are playing with, how long they are playing for, and how much they can spend. Families can choose the tools that work best for them and their families. The campaign will be promoted locally by national trade associations and companies, focusing on national data and information in each of the territories and languages. 

The latest survey conducted jointly by PEGI (Pan European Game Information) and IPSOS shows that 79 per cent of parents with children who play video games are aware of the PEGI age labels. Regarding parental control tools, among parents with children who play video games, 62 per cent say they apply one or more tools to monitor or limit their child’s gameplay. 

Discover more about the campaign at www.seizethecontrols.eu. Help is also on hand for parents who need more information or support locally at www.seizethecontrols.eu/local. 

Discover more about the work of Video Games Europe at www.videogameseurope.eu. 

Discover more about PEGI, which provides age classifications for video games in 38 European countries, at www.pegi.info. 

Image credit: Video Games Europe

The next edition of Safer Internet Day (SID) will take place on Tuesday, 6 February 2024, when we will again join “Together for a better internet”.

Campaigning activities will start soon, but keep checking the Safer Internet Day website – www.saferinternetday.org – for the latest news and updates.

Image credit: Better Internet for Kids/Safer Internet Day

The Teacher corner is a section of the Better Internet for Kids portal entirely dedicated to teachers, educators and other adults who work with children and young people. It is your ‘one-stop shop’ for learning and teaching about digital citizenship and online safety, and your go-to place for free information, advice and suggested resources to empower you to educate and support youth to safely and positively navigate their digital world. 

Browse through a wide selection of learning modules and deep dive articles, providing teachers and educators with useful information, advice, resources and teaching materials to understand specific topics and areas of risk, such as the latest deep dive on online hate speech. In addition, the new webinars section aims to further highlight the potential of the Teacher corner for the benefit of a wider audience. Look out for a number of new webinars coming up in 2024!

Are you a teacher of pre-school, primary, or secondary education? Do you have an awareness of – or interest in – keeping children and young people safe online? This open call for participation in the BIK Teacher Voice Panel is your opportunity to contribute your views and experiences on the digital rights and well-being of children and young people, as well as some online risks affecting them, such as cyberbullying, online gaming, and misinformation.

Image credit: Better Internet for Kids

The EU policy roundtable, hosted by the menABLE project, will bring together a diverse group of public and private stakeholders, including policymakers, representatives from civil society, academia, industries, education and young people to discuss priorities in tackling gender-based violence (GBV) online.

The primary objective of the roundtable is to present and discuss the research findings of the menABLE research report – an empirical study on understanding and responding to gender-based violence online; and the educational toolbox concept – a plug-and-play game to prevent and combat gender-based violence online. Simultaneously, participants will engage in discussions about priorities and explore potential synergies for future initiatives.

The Roundtable will take place on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 in Brussels and online. For more information about the event, agenda, speakers’ bios, and registration, please visit the menABLE website. 

Image credit: menABLE project

Developing good practice, building capacity, and establishing a strong evidence base is key to the work of Insafe and INHOPE, the network of Safer Internet Centres, and other stakeholders in the Better Internet for Kids agenda, in Europe and beyond.

Our regularly updated collection of practice articles on the Better Internet for Kids portal provides insights into the latest opportunities, challenges and initiatives for keeping children and young people safe online.

Read on for a selection of the latest news from Safer Internet Centres...

The Belgian Safer Internet Centre shares the story of 15-year-old Glenn, who took his own life in June 2017. His nude was shared on a fake Instagram account, along with his name: the photo he took with his own phone was only meant for one person until it ended up on the internet. It became too much for Glenn.

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

The Dutch Safer Internet Centre recently organised the Media Literacy Week 2023 (celebrated from 10 – 17 November). For an entire week, numerous network partners reflected on dealing with offensive behaviour online under the banner #hierniet (not here). Hundreds of entities endorsed the #hierniet initiative, with activities taking place across the country. Furthermore, almost 190,000 students participated in the MediaMasters serious game as part of the campaign actions. 

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

On Thursday, 23 November 2023, led by youth representative Lara, the Croatian Safer Internet Centre participated in the Safer Internet Forum in Brussels, organised by European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission. 

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

On 10-11 November 2023, the Croatian Safer Internet Centre – in collaboration with A1Croatia – conducted seven free interactive workshops for elementary and high school children. Five schools took part, allowing for the participation of 150 attendees in the Reboot InfoGamer activities. 

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

In October 2023, the Czech Safer Internet Centre launched a new educational video game on the topic of healthy habits in the digital environment, called DigiStories: Alex. In the game, students can learn about the signs and consequences of problematic behaviours related to the excessive use of digital technologies in the form of playing an online game. The resource is suitable for collective learning in the classroom and allows students to understand the issues through their own experiences.

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

Media Literacy Weeks is an annual event organised by the One World in Schools department (JSNS) of People in Need (part of the Czech Safer Internet Centre). This event aims to develop media literacy and strengthen the critical thinking skills of primary and secondary school pupils and students across the Czech Republic.

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

The Estonian Safer Internet Centre has introduced a teacher training course known as The teaching and learning framework and AI (or How to make Kratt work for you, with Kratt being a reference to Estonian mythology). The course consists of 14 academic hours of online study with five academic hours of independent study. 

Read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids portal.

We hope that you have enjoyed reading the quarterly Better Internet for Kids (BIK) bulletin during 2023. We'll be back in 2024 with four fresh new editions in March, June, September and December where we'll especially be reporting on the impact of the Digital Services Act, progress against BIK+ strategy objectives two years after its launch, and the ongoing commitment of stakeholders – in Europe and beyond – to ensure that children and young people are protected, respected and empowered online.

In the meantime, check out past editions of the BIK bulletin for coverage of a range of safer and better internet issues, or browse the BIK Resource gallery or BIK Guide to apps for practical materials on supporting young people when they go online, in a range of languages.

On that note, we wish you all a happy, restful and safe festive season. See you next year!