Better Internet for Kids bulletin

In this edition, we introduce 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. We also take a look at the efforts to support children and young people in dealing with the terrible current events in Ukraine.

In this edition, we consider the sexualisation of culture, and of children and young people online. We also look back at the success of the recent celebration of Safer Internet Day 2022, including many instances of youth involvement, also within the wider context of the European Year of Youth.

In this edition, we recap on the many initiatives and policy developments in the field over the last year, and look forward to the ongoing work to keep children and young people safe online in 2022... and beyond. We also reflect back on the recent Safer Internet Forum, look forward to Safer Internet Day 2022, and bring you some seasonal tips for staying safe online, along with news and resources from the European network of Safer Internet Centres.

As we approach this year's edition of the Safer Internet Forum (SIF), this edition of the BIK bulletin is dedicated to the theme of the event - how to make Europe's Digital Decade fit for children and young people. Over recent months, we've been consulting with children and young people (and other stakeholders) to ensure that the digital world is fit for the future, and can allow everyone to benefit from all the opportunities it can offer.

In this edition, we consider 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. Our focus article considers some of the research evidence alongside practical approaches.

In this edition, we consider 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. Online service providers should therefore actively seek ways to enable the voice of their younger users in shaping the service to meet their needs and serve the best interests of children.

This edition looks back on the lessons learned from a successful Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 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.

This edition focuses 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.

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

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

This edition looks back on the success of Safer Internet Forum 2019 which considered how we move "From online violence to digital respect", look forward to the next edition of Safer Internet Day, taking place on Tuesday, 11 February 2020 when once again stakeholders across the globe joined "Together for a better internet", and give you some food for thought on managing new tech which might make its way into your home over the festive season.

This edition focuses on positive online content, as a round up of the Positive Online Content Awareness Month which ran throughout September. It includes 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, policy makers and the research community.

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

This edition focuses on media literacy in Europe.

This edition is a review of Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2018, a preview of Safer Internet Day (SID) 2019, and some tips for celebrating the festive season... safely, online.

This edition puts a special focus on creative learning, the #SaferInternet4EU Awards, and updates on a number of events and campaigns taking place in the coming months.

This edition focuses on hotline issues and trends.

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

This edition puts a special focus on Safer Internet Forum, the new BIK Youth Programme, and a Safer Internet Day preview.

This edition puts a special focus on positive online content.

This edition puts a special focus on fake news.

This edition puts a special focus on cyberbullying.

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

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

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

This edition focuses on the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and, specifically, whether it will help to create a better internet for children and young people. We have some great opinion pieces on the topic from a range of experts in the field.

This edition focuses on children's rights online.

This edition focuses on internet governance.