What is "positive online content" after all?
We understand it as "digital content aimed at children, which enables them to learn, have fun, create, enjoy, develop a positive view of themselves and respect for their identity, enhance their participation in society and produce and distribute their own positive content".
From the earliest of ages, children nowadays interact with modern technology and online content which can provide them with countless opportunities to learn, to develop or simply to have fun. At such tender ages, a well-designed, creative and above all safe digital resource – be it an app, a website or an online service – can make a world of difference for a child and can leave a positive mark. For this very reason, we believe that every child, everywhere deserves a "better digital childhood", which is also this year's Positive Online Content Campaign (POCC) tagline.
We believe that the first step towards ensuring that the young adults of tomorrow are empowered, digitally skilled, media literate, and active citizens is through positive first digital experiences. For these very reasons, the Positive Online Content Campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of positive online content for children, to foster a discussion with youth, parents and teachers to make them aware about the state of positive online content for children in their country. Additionally, it aims to encourage a discussion with industry and content producers and providers to encourage the production of more positive online content for children.
The centerpiece of this campaign is the revised, tailor-made Positive Online Content Criteria Checklist (available in various European languages) especially designed for producers and providers of online content for children, but it can equally help parents and teachers to orient themselves in the sea of digital content for children currently available online. The POC Month therefore will have one week dedicated to each of these concerned groups:
- Week 1, from 2 to 8 September, will focus on what positive online content is and how one can recognise it by following the comprehensive POCC Criteria Checklist
- Week 2, from 9 to 15 September, will target teachers and parents. Stay tuned for an interesting video interview and lots of top tips to help you navigate the vast amounts of digital content addressing children. If you're a teacher, be sure to tune into the #EdChatEU Twitter chat providing live advice to teachers across Europe, starting on Saturday, 7 September at 13:00 CEST.
- Week 3, from 16 to 22 September, is all about children and young people. Stay tuned for input on the matter from BIK Youth Ambassadors , along with plenty of online fun!
- Week 4, from 23 to 27 September, is dedicated to industry, namely to producers and providers of online content for children. The highlight of the week will be an industry-centred Focus Group taking place in Brussels to discuss what's next for online content for children and the main challenges to be faced.
Don't forget to sign up for the quarterly Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Bulletin, scheduled for publication on 30 September 2019 to round off the campaign with lots of articles, tips and information.
To discover more about the POCC campaign, follow the #PositiveContent and #BetterDigitalChildhood hashtags on social media, keep an eye on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) portal and Positive Online Content minisite, join the #EdChatEU Twitter chat, and show the world you stand for positive online content for children by adding a Twibbon to your social media profiles!