The
Safer Internet Forum (SIF) is a key annual conference in Europe where policy makers, researchers, law enforcement bodies, youth, parents and carers, teachers, NGOs, industry representatives, experts and other relevant actors come together to discuss the latest trends, opportunities, risks and solutions related to child online safety. This year’s edition took place online on
6-7 October 2021 and explored
how to make Europe's Digital Decade fit for children and young people.
Download the Forum booklet, containing the agenda and
information on the speakers and contributors.
NEW: Download the public report from Safer Internet Forum 2021 Tuesday, 5 October 2021 - pre-event
Download the consultation report, How to make Europe’s Digital Decade fit for children and young people? A report from the consultation with children and young people.
Videos from the BIK Youth Panel 2021:
Why is it important to create a better online school environment?
Why is our data being collected?
How do we wish the internet to look like in 2031?
Wednesday, 6 October 2021 - Day 1
Keynote session: The Digital Decade we want to see for children and young people – a vision
of 2030 online
Presentation: Professor Urs Gasser | Professor Veronica Barassi
View the session recording
Deep Dive 1: Age-appropriate design and the role of age assurance/verification
View the session recording
Deep Dive 2: New and emerging tech
Presentation: Dr Victoria Baines
View the session recording
Thursday, 7 October 2021 - Day 2
Deep Dive 3: Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
Please note, this session was conducted under Chatham House Rule,
hence a session recording is not available.
Deep Dive 4: Online gaming
Presentation: Tommi Tossavainen | Laura Higgins
View the session recording
Deep Dive 5: Youngest users
View the session recording
Deep Dive 6: Harmful online content, experiences and solutions
Presentation: Marta Wojtas
View the session recording
Deep Dive 7: Digital inclusion – ensuring positive online experiences for all children and enabling active youth participation
Presentations: Professor Sara Ayllón | Georgi Apostolov
View the session recording
Closing session of Safer Internet Forum 2021
View the session recording
Background to SaferInternet Forum 2021In March 2021, the European Commission adopted
2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade, to translate the European Unionʼs digital ambitions for 2030 into concrete targets and to ensure that these objectives will be met. The document identifies four ‘cardinal points’ on digital capacities in infrastructures, education and skills, and on the digital transformation of business and public services. This European way for the digital society is also based on ensuring full respect of EU fundamental rights, and will propose a comprehensive set of digital principles, including protecting and empowering children in the online space. A corresponding consultation exercise has sought to gather the views of European citizens, and particularly those of children and young people, on these digital principles.
Alongside this, the importance of the rights of children and young people have been brought to the fore in recent months with the publication of the
EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, the overarching ambition of which is to build the best possible life for children in the European Union and across the globe, including online. Additionally, the publication of
General Comment No. 25 by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child places a specific focus on the rights of young people online. In short,
every child has the right to be respected, protected and fulfilled in the digital environment.
The European Commission has long been committed to this aim, providing legislative and financial support to Member States to create a safer and better internet for more than 20 years. Central to this effort has been the
European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (commonly known as the BIK Strategy) which has provided a key point of reference for online safety policy making since 2012. Within the contexts outlined above, the time has now come to review and update the BIK Strategy.
Therefore, the 2021 Safer Internet Forum showcased key findings from the recent digital principles consultation, amplifying the voices of children and young people to deliver a vision for a #DigitalDecade4YOUth. The event highlighted the priorities that different groups, including parents, carers and teachers, have identified in order to fulfil children’s rights in a digital world, while allowing them to engage, create and contribute within safe, ethical and inclusive online spaces.
Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2021 was organised by European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission in the framework of the EC's Better Internet for Kids initiative with funding provided by the Connecting Europe Facility programme (CEF). In case of queries, please contact the Safer Internet Forum Secretariat. 
