Insafe network meets to discuss the impact of technology on the health and wellbeing of children and young people

Today, the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres begins a two-day meeting in Larnaca, Cyprus, exchanging knowledge and experience about the latest online issues and trends, considering what the future of technology holds and how it may impact the work of Awareness Centres and Helplines in Europe. 

Date 2016-04-20 Author BIK team Section awareness, helplines
As children and young people start using technology at an ever younger age, and as new virtual reality technology becomes more accessible and mainstream, it is important that the network considers the implications of some of these developments. 
 
Throughout the meeting, over 100 participants will hear from international experts Dr. Richard Graham and Christian Mogensen, as well as from the privacy activist Max Schrems who, along with the Data Protection Commissioner from Cyprus, will debate the recent adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by the European Parliament (see the recent edition of the BIK bulletin also for more on this issue). 
 
Colleagues from the Safer Internet Centres will also attend workshops which will allow them to better understand and debate some of the challenges around gaming as well as experiencing what virtual reality headsets are able to do. They will hear from experts within the network about ground-breaking work that is being done to provide the best possible support for children and young people as well as parents, teachers and other key stakeholders. In addition, there will be sessions on Safer Internet Day, how the network is tackling the difficult issue of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as an opportunity to discuss recent Helpline case studies.
 
Insafe network coordinator, Hans Martens said: "It's with great pleasure that we again welcome a number of our colleagues from across the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres to a training meeting. These meetings provide a great opportunity to network, share expertise, and start to address some of the challenges on the horizon. The focus on gaming and virtual reality during this training meeting will be particularly interesting. Virtual reality headsets could soon become mainstream and we know from experience that children and young people are always early adopters of new technologies. Having this opportunity to debate some of the potential challenges they might encounter will allow us to better support them in their explorations."
 
Visit the new Better Internet for Kids portal at www.betterinternetforkids.eu to discover more about the work of the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres and wider stakeholders in the field, and subscribe to the quarterly Better Internet for Kids Bulletin for news and resources on the latest trends in online life.
 
To learn more about Safer Internet Day, visit www.saferinternetday.org.
 
To learn more about the Cypriot Safer Internet Centre, click here.
 

Related news

2024-04-15 advertising/commercialism, data privacy, gaming, technical settings BIK Team

AdWiseOnline guide to outsmart unwanted ads and marketing traps online

In today’s interconnected world, young people are increasingly exposed to digital marketing practices. From social media platforms to mobile apps and video games, the online landscape overflows with advertisements and persuasive tactics. AdWiseOnline campaign resources aim to equip YOU(th) with the knowledge they need to outsmart online ads and traps and know their rights.

2024-04-09 cyberbullying, hate speech, media literacy/education BIK Team

Media literacy in the fight against online hate speech

As part of the #MediaSmartOnline campaign, aiming to spotlight media literacy actions across Europe and running in cooperation with the network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) and the Media & Learning Association (MLA) within the framework of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) initiative, we are producing articles on a series of focus topics related to media literacy. This week, we’re diving into online hate speech.

2024-04-05 media literacy/education, online reputation, potentially harmful content BIK Team

Exploring misinformation for a young generation of voters: insights from the Fighting Misinformation Online Google summit

The Google summit on Fighting Misinformation online took place in Brussels on Thursday, 21 March 2024.  The event served as an opportunity to reflect on emerging disinformation trends and media literacy challenges moving forward, and especially in the context of the upcoming European elections, followed by other crucial elections in the United States and India later in the year. One of the sessions was called "Building Trust - Media Literacy with and for Young Voters" and saw the involvement and participation of eight BIK Youth Ambassadors. Keep reading for a recap of the day.