Better Internet for Kids bulletin

 

The Better Internet for Kids (BIK) bulletin is a quarterly electronic newsletter with the aim of keeping you informed on better internet issues.

Each edition provides a topical focus article looking at the latest trends in online life, with features from youth, industry and the research community, along with a mix of news and resources from key stakeholders in the field. The typical publishing cycle for the BIK bulletin is each March, June, September and December.

From the June 2022 edition onwards, you can browse the archive below. For editions of the BIK bulletin prior to June 2022, please contact us for more information.

Additionally, you can subscribe to receive future editions of the BIK bulletin directly to your email inbox.

Cover picture of the December 2023 bulletin featuring a festive SID-themed banner and wishes for a safe, restful winter break.

In this edition of the BIK bulletin, we're looking back at the main highlights of the year, including the progress made on the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) package, another successful, youth-led edition of the Safer Internet Forum, and as many of us head into the winter break, we bring you some seasonal tips for staying safe online. We also start getting ready for the upcoming Safer Internet Day, on Tuesday, 6 February 2024.

Cover picture of the September 2023 bulletin featuring four children looking at a smartphone.

In this edition of the BIK bulletin, with the start of a new school year the focus is on putting “skills centre-stage”, highlighting the importance of equipping children and young people with the competences they need to succeed in an increasingly digitised world. We also invite you to register for Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2023, and bring you updates on the activities of the BIK Youth Panel and SIF Youth Advisory Group. 

 
Cover picture of the June 2023 bulletin featuring 2 girls drawing.

In this edition of the BIK bulletin, we bring you an insight into some of the challenges in defining and identifying vulnerability, alongside a snapshot of some of the excellent initiatives already being implemented by Safer Internet Centres across Europe to protect vulnerable young people in the online space.

Cover picture of the March 2023 bulletin featuring a stylised map of Europe.

This edition previewed the fourth edition of the Better Internet for Kids Policy Map report with a series of country impact case studies - Ireland, Finland, Malta and Germany. It also explored the successes of the celebration of Safer Internet Day 2023 from the European network of Safer Internet Centres and beyond, and provided updates on many new resource launches which helped to mark the day.

Cover picture of the December 2022 bulletin featuring festive stars and the SID 2023 celebratory logo.

This edition reflected back on progress since the launch of the BIK+ strategy, on the youth-led edition of the Safer Internet Forum 2022 and other activities to amplify young voices, and provided some seasonal tips for staying safe online during the winter holidays.

This edition provided a roundup of the Roundtable on child and youth consumer protection in digital markets, news on the Positive Online Content awareness campaign, and invited you to save the date for Safer Internet Day 2023.

In this edition, we introduced you to the new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+). Adopted by the European Commission in May 2022, the strategy builds on previous work to improve age-appropriate digital services and to ensure that every child is protected, empowered and respected online. This edition also examined efforts to support children and young people in dealing with the terrible events in Ukraine.

March 2022

This edition considered the sexualisation of culture, and of children and young people online. It also looked back at the success of Safer Internet Day 2022, including many instances of youth involvement within the wider context of the European Year of Youth.

December 2021

This edition recapped the many initiatives and policy developments in the field over the previous year, alongside ongoing work to keep children and young people safe online in 2022... and beyond. It also reflected on Safer Internet Forum 2021, previewed Safer Internet Day 2022, and provided some seasonal tips for staying safe online, along with news and resources from the European network of Safer Internet Centres.

September 2021

As Safer Internet Forum 2021 approached, this edition of the BIK bulletin was dedicated to the theme of the event: "How to make Europe's Digital Decade fit for children and young people". It also highlighted the results of consultations with children and young people (and other stakeholders) to ensure that the digital world is fit for the future.

June 2021

This edition considered children's rights in the digital environment and, especially, how we can move from theory towards practice. While the digital revolution has provided many opportunities for child empowerment, participation and expression online, it has also raised some concerns as to how they can exercise their rights in the digital environment.

March 2021

This edition considered age-appropriate design with youth. Involving children and young people in matters that affect them – giving them meaningful involvement and a voice – should never be considered as optional: they are fundamental rights, which should apply equally offline and online.

December 2020

This edition looked back on the lessons learned from a successful Safer Internet Forum 2020, with a theme of "Digital (dis)advantage: creating a more inclusive world for children and young people online", reflecting on the opportunities and challenges of being online for children and young people with diverse disabilities, along with a number of policy responses aiming to foster greater accessibility online.

September 2020

This edition focused on reaffirming Better Internet for Kids (BIK) priorities through a range of actions, reflecting on recent and ongoing work such as the Insafe network's back-to-school activities in times of social distancing and emergency remote teaching and learning, as well as ongoing dynamic research and policy work on children and young people in the digital transformation by a range of stakeholders, and upcoming events and campaigns.

June 2020

This edition focused on freedom of expression online in the age of disinformation, drawing on a workshop on this topic at a European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) event. Also, as lockdown started to lift across Europe, it reflected back on some of the opportunities and challenges as they related to online safety issues and the coronavirus pandemic from the Insafe and INHOPE networks.

March 2020

This edition provided a special focus on staying safe online during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

December 2019

This edition looked back on the success of Safer Internet Forum 2019 which considered how we move "From online violence to digital respect", previewed Safer Internet Day 2020, and provided some food for thought on managing new festive tech.

September 2019

This edition focused on positive online content, as a round-up of the Positive Online Content Awareness Month which ran throughout September 2019. It included the perspectives of the different groups that have a stake in positive online content: young people, parents and carers, teachers and other educational staff, content producers, policymakers and the research community.

June 2019

This edition focused on online challenges, hearing specifically from Geert Reynders who tragically lost his son Tim to a dangerous online challenge.

March 2019

This edition focused on media literacy in Europe.

December 2018

This edition reviewed Safer Internet Forum 2018, previewed Safer Internet Day 2019, and gave some tips for celebrating the festive season safely, online.

September 2018

This edition placed a special focus on creative learning, the #SaferInternet4EU Awards, and updates on a number of events and campaigns.

June 2018

This edition focused on hotline issues and trends.

March 2018

This edition placed a special focus on the BIK Policy Map report, designed to give insight into policy approaches across Europe.

December 2017

This edition placed a special focus on Safer Internet Forum 2017, the BIK Youth Programme, and a Safer Internet Day 2018 preview.

September 2017

This edition placed a special focus on positive online content.

June 2017

This edition placed a special focus on fake news.

March 2017

This edition placed a special focus on cyberbullying.

December 2016

This edition placed a special focus on online advertising and the commercialisation of children and young people.

September 2016

This edition had a special Back2School focus to coincide with the start of the new academic year.

June 2016

This edition focused on media and information literacy in Europe. A special sub-focus was given to youth as key stakeholders in the internet governance agenda.

March 2016

This edition focused on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and, specifically, whether it will help to create a better internet for children and young people.

December 2015

This edition focused on children's rights online.

September 2015

This edition focused on internet governance.

Want to find out more about Safer Internet Centre (SIC) services and resources in your country?

Check out your SIC profile page to connect with national resources and sources of support, providing awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services.