Practice articles

2020-11-23 cyberbullying, hate speech Jacqueline Beauchere, Global Digital Safety Advocate at Microsoft

Microsoft study: online risks that sow hate and division are growing

Online fraud, hate speech, discrimination and other divisive online risks are on the rise globally, according to results of a new Microsoft study. These findings were released in conjunction with World Kindness Day in an effort to turn that tide and encourage safer, more empathetic and tolerant online interactions among all people.

2020-11-20 BIK Team

Focus on inclusion in online safety at Safer Internet Forum 2020

With a theme of “Digital (dis)advantage: creating an inclusive world for children and young people online”, Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2020 will take place online, with the main sessions being held on Wednesday, 25 and Thursday, 26 November 2020 – with a range of additional sessions throughout the week. 

2020-11-17 media literacy/education, potentially harmful content BIK Team

The BIK Youth Panel 2020 is getting close!

The 12th edition of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Youth Panel is underway and will culminate with an online session at Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2020.

2020-11-16 excessive use, hate speech, media literacy/education, potentially harmful content Polish Safer Internet Centre

Watch the recordings of the 14th international conference "Keeping children and young people safe online"

Experts from all over Europe met online to discuss a broad spectrum of issues related to the safety of children and young people on the internet. The video materials from the 14th international conference "Keeping children and young people safe online", which took place on Tuesday, 29 and Wednesday, 30 September 2020 (online plenary sessions) and Thursday, 1 and Friday, 2 October 2020 (online workshops), are now available.

2020-11-12 data privacy, media literacy/education Youth SKILLS (ySKILLS)

Research confirms children’s digital skills positively affect learning outcomes

Findings from 110 studies published in 64 countries point to the fact that digital skills play a key role for children’s and young people’s learning, participation and other opportunities. International research also reveals that the benefits of digital skills apply online and offline, potentially affecting multiple dimensions of children’s lives. There is also evidence that better digital skills can protect children from online risk of harm as well, although this evidence needs to be strengthened. 

2020-11-09 Luxembourgish Safer Internet Centre

“Are you sure?!” Granny remembers everything, so does the internet

The Luxembourgish Safer Internet Centre (SIC) BEE SECURE is launching its annual awareness campaign focusing on the influence of images on the lives of young people. The campaign will communicate on four subtopics throughout the school year: self-reputation, self-expression, sharenting and sexting.

2020-11-02 data privacy, technical settings Portuguese Safer Internet Centre

MOOC on Artificial Intelligence in education for Portuguese educators

A new online training course entitled "Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) going to transform the school as we know it?", distributed in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) format and promoted by the Portuguese General-Directorate for Education (DGE), which is part of the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre (SIC), was launched on Tuesday, 20 October 2020. 

2020-10-30 cyberbullying, excessive use, gaming, love, relationships, sexuality (online), online reputation Czech Safer Internet Centre

Czech series #martyisdead is nominated for an Emmy Award

The Czech thriller series #martyisdead, which focuses on cyberbullying was nominated for an Emmy Award, in the “Short-Forum Series” category, making it the first Czech series which may win the prize. The winners will be announced on 23 November during the 48th International Emmy Awards Gala in New York.

2020-10-28 grooming, love, relationships, sexuality (online), potentially harmful content, sexting, sextortion, sexual harassment BIK Team

Insafe and INHOPE meet to exchange on common areas of work

Today, the Insafe and INHOPE networks of European Safer Internet Centres (SICs) begin a two-day joint training meeting online. This event is an opportunity to facilitate sharing of experience and good practice between the two networks and to explore areas of common ground and opportunities for closer working between helplines, hotlines and awareness centres.

2020-10-27 grooming, love, relationships, sexuality (online), online reputation, sexting, sextortion, sexual harassment Birgit Kimmel, Stefanie Fächner, Stefanie Rack from the German Safer Internet Centre

Protecting children from sexual grooming online

All over the world, child welfare organisations are working to protect girls and boys from sexualised violence in real life, and also on the internet. However, the sexual exploitation of girls and boys rests on  traditions stretching over centuries, and it was not until the 1990s that pedagogical prevention efforts were undertaken and began raising awareness in kindergartens, schools, counselling services and youth authorities towards providing timely support to children and adolescents (Enders, 1990, p. 11).