Last month, SWGfL attended the Safer Internet Forum (SIF) annual conference held in Brussels, Belgium to explore and discuss the latest trends, opportunities and risks related to children’s safety online and how to make the internet a better place for young people.
This year, the Safer Internet Forum theme was ‘Empowering YOUth with skills for the Digital Decade,’ and was joined by Safer Internet Centres across Europe, alongside NGO’s, researchers, experts, and carers from around the world.
The day was led by a group of young people and included panel discussions, an interactive performance, and deep dive sessions all relating to how children and young people can be protected online. Including:
- The skills needed for young people to thrive online.
- The voice of young influencers
- Being a teen online in 2023
- Skills young people need online, with specific focuses including cyberbullying, mental health, and AI.
- The ways to foster these skills with specific focuses, for instance, peer-to-peer or child-to-adult approaches.
Throughout the Safer Internet Forum, there was a specific focus on exploring digital empowerment and encouraging active participation and respect as it relates to young people. The Forum was also an opportunity to showcase groundbreaking developments that support the progression of digital skills in young people, parents, and teachers.
Find out more about the Safer Internet Forum here.
Safer Internet Day 2024
If you want to get involved with making the internet a better and safer place for everyone, then you can join in with Safer Internet Day, which is taking place on the 6th of February 2024 and will address many of the topics discussed within the Safer Internet Forum. Created in consultation with young people across the UK, this year’s Safer Internet Day theme will be ‘Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online,’ with the theme exploring:
- Young people’s perspective on new and emerging technology
- Using the internet to make change for the better
- The changes young people want to see online
- The things that can influence and change the way young people think, feel and act online and offline
Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. Schools and organisations can now register their support for Safer Internet Day 2024 by visiting the UK Safer Internet Centre website.
