This year, we empower young people – Shaping Safer Internet Forum 2022!

Children and young people have always been at the core of Better Internet for Kids (BIK) activities. This year, marking the European Year of Youth initiative, #DigitalDecade4YOUth consultation, and the launch of the BIK+ strategy, Better Internet for Kids aims to encourage youth participation and involve young people in shaping and leading BIK’s key annual conference – the Safer Internet Forum. 

Date 2022-09-30 Author BIK Team Section youth Topic media literacy/education Audience children and young people, organisations and industry, research, policy and decision makers

The 2022 edition of the Safer Internet Forum (SIF) will be organised in a youth-led manner, with young people playing an active role in the planning, preparation and delivery of the Forum. In preparation for this event, a Safer Internet Forum (SIF) Youth Advisory Group 2022 has been convened comprising ten young people from various European countries. Members have participated in preparatory meetings aimed at sharing their respective views on the three main pillars of the new BIK+ strategy and further contributed to the development of the Forum’s agenda.

More specifically, the Youth Advisory Group is focusing on the following topics: 

  • Safe digital experiences to protect children from harmful and illegal content, conduct, contact and consumer risks, and to improve their well-being online through a safe, age-appropriate digital environment, created in a way that respects children’s best interests. 
  • Digital empowerment so children acquire the necessary skills and competencies to make sound choices and express themselves in the online environment safely and responsibly. 
  • Active participation, respecting children by giving them a say in the digital environment, with more child-led activities to foster innovative and creative safe digital experiences.

Find out more about the SIF Youth Advisory Group and meet its members

Moreover, the 14th edition of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Youth Panel is approaching and will culminate at Safer Internet Forum 2022 as well. In the days preceding this year’s Forum (25 and 26 October), a group of 20 young people involved with national Safer Internet Centres from across Europe will represent the voices of youth on online safety, digital literacy, and internet governance issues.

Since the beginning of September, through a series of online meetings, participants have been actively preparing their session by sharing their respective perspectives on better and safer internet issues with their peers, agreeing on key themes, and preparing awareness materials – in particular videos – on these topics.

Be sure to register for the Safer Internet Forum to witness youth’s contributions to the key event in the field of online safety. Find out more about SIF, view the draft agenda, and register for online attendance here.

For more information about youth participation and the Safer Internet Forum generally, please visit the Better Internet for Kids website. To learn more about the BIK Youth Panel 2022 and SIF Youth Advisory Group 2022, please keep an eye on the BIK Youth minisite and Twitter profile.
 

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