Each year, SuperAwesome celebrates Safer Internet Day (SID), a global, community-led observance dedicated to fostering a better internet for all. Making the internet safer for kids is the driving force behind our company and, with screen time at an all-time high for kids and Young Teens due to Covid-19, this purpose matters now more than ever.
What is Safer Internet Day?
Every February since 2004, Safer Internet Day, organized by the Insafe/INHOPE network of European Safer Internet Centres (SICs) with the support of the European Commission, provides a space for all stakeholders to reflect on how together we can promote the responsible, respectful, critical, and creative use of digital technologies. Having grown in scope over the years, Safer Internet Day is now celebrated by children, young people, parents and carers, teachers, educators and social workers, industry, decision-makers, and politicians from over 170 countries.
Why is Safer Internet Day important?
Digital technologies provide us with a world of possibilities at our fingertips. Never before have we enjoyed so many opportunities to learn, exchange, participate, and create. In 2021, this statement rings truer than ever: in the past year, we have collectively taken a digital leap, and digital means of communication have proven nothing short of vital for our societies to keep functioning in the face of a global health crisis.
However, greater internet use also means greater exposure to online risks, especially for the youngest among us. Concerns pertaining to cybercrime, privacy, misinformation and disinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and predatory behaviors have grown since the advent of the coronavirus crisis.
As internet users, we are all faced with the same dilemma: how do we make the most of the opportunities the digital environment brings us, while at the same time mitigating any potential negative side-effect it might entail?
How will SuperAwesome celebrate Safer Internet Day?
On Tuesday, February 9, SuperAwesome will join millions around the world coming “Together for a better internet”.
In the past, we have worked with children at local schools to coordinate engaging, in-person activities to honor Safer Internet Day and educate kids about the importance of digital safety. This year, we’ll be taking the celebration online by sharing information and activities focused on online privacy and safety on PopJam, our kid-safe social platform for children ages 7-12.
In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about how kids participated in Safer Internet Day on PopJam, including our favorite artwork by PopJammers!
How can I get involved in making the internet a better place?
Everyone has an important part to play in making the internet safer for kids:
- Children and young people can practice being kind and respectful to others online and seeking out safe, positive opportunities to create, engage, and share.
- Parents can play a critical role in teaching their children to use technology responsibly and respectfully, establishing an open dialogue with their children about online safety, and by acting as digital role models.
- Teachers and educators can equip their students with digital literacy skills to help them better navigate the online world, empower them to make smart choices online, and set an example of positive online behavior.
- Brands and advertisers can practice responsible digital engagement with young people by taking advantage of kidtech solutions, working with specialist partners, and staying educated about kids online privacy laws.
- Developers can ensure that digital experiences for kids are safe and appropriate by complying with kids digital privacy laws and regulations.
- Policy makers can ensure the safety and wellbeing of kids and Young Teens through effective child protection strategies for the digital world.
Visit www.saferinternetday.org to access a variety of resources to promote a safer and better internet all year round.
Building a better internet for kids and Young Teens is at the heart of our mission. To learn more about safe digital engagement practices in a constantly evolving kids digital landscape, enroll in our KidAware training program.
