NEWS / EVENTS: Non-formal education week (ROMANIA)

Every year in Romania, the Ministry of Education dedicates one week in April to non-formal and extracurricular educational activities. All institutions, teachers and pupils are encouraged to participate in a range of diverse cultural actions.

The Safer Internet Centre (SIC) in Romania, and the country-wide network of active youth panellists, will take this as an opportunity to teach children and teachers about online safety issues. This is why, this year, in all 13 cities with active youth panels, informative sessions will be held in schools between 7-11 April. Most activities will use non-formal techniques in order to stimulate children and teachers’ participation in creating a safer and better online environment, both for them and their community. Besides activities in schools, some of the youth panellists have decided to organise flash mobs, followed by informative sessions in visible public places in their city.

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NEWS: Internet cafe ban planned for children (UAE)

DUBAI // Children under 18 would be banned from internet cafes under a plan by child-protection officers.

The proposal is being studied by the Social Affairs Minister, Mariam Al Roumi, the ministry's child department director Moza Al Shoomi said yesterday.

The proposed federal ban is aimed at protecting children from exploitation, Mrs Al Shoomi said. "We need to protect our children, especially young girls, from any abuse. These internet cafes are a danger zone."

Mrs Al Shoomi was speaking at the launch of a two-month awareness campaign by Dubai Police aimed at getting parents to educate their children about potential dangers on the internet.

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PRESS RELEASE / RESEARCH: Ofcom Update: Revealed: How parents control children’s access to adult media

A new online survey conducted by the website ParentPort reveals that, of those parents surveyed whose children watch films at home, 40% had allowed their children to watch a film classified above their age.

The survey of 1,800 respondents from the UK's two largest online parenting communities – Mumsnet and Netmums - reveals the challenges and pressures parents face when it comes to keeping the media their children see age-appropriate.

ParentPort was set up last October to make it easier for parents to complain about material they see or hear across the media, communications and retail industries.

The news release on the survey can be found here on the ParentPort website.

ARTICLES: The young and the restless

While teens happily barrel along the information highway, parents are setting up a few roadblocks.

Children aged eight to 18 seem to be surgically attached to their phones these days, absorbed in a digital world far removed from physical boundaries, and often parental ones too. But parents are getting increasingly concerned, and clued up, about thevirtual playgrounds their children are frequenting.

Heather Hansen, who runs educational workshops on Internet safety at Teenworx, says while children have the digital world at their fingertips, they don't necessarily know how to use it. “We're asked to go into schools and sometimes children as young as Grade Four (nine to 10 years old) have access to BlackBerrys, which is stressful for them because they have all this technology and aren't sure what to do with it.”

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EVENTS: Student playwriting competition marks Safer Internet Day 2012 (BULGARIA)

The Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre (SIC) team has developed two lessons introducing the theme to the children: to motivate and help them think about various possible situations, which are resolved by co-operation between a child and an adult, and to provide them with a simple guide on how to develop a scenario. The prizes are smartphones from the Mobiltel mobile operator, multimedia sets from Microsoft Bulgaria, and a challenging experience together.

The Bulgarian SIC have already received about 40 scenarios from children of different ages and schools all over the country. The topic of connecting generations has been developed into various creative ideas. The children organised themselves and worked in teams together with their teachers and parents. Most of the topics are related to online risks. Initial observations are that most of the children are sensitive to the existing dangers online. A lot of the stories in the elaborated scenarios have a positive outcome: this shows children's belief in a safer online world.

The three best scenarios will be chosen by a jury and the winners will work with professional theatre directors to prepare themselves for performing on stage at the national SID 2012 event. The event will be held in a theatre in Sofia and, after a brief press conference, the winners will have their minutes of glory in front of the audience.

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ARTICLES: Child safety measures to protect against internet threats

If you are reading this on Christmas Day, there is a good chance you are excitedly trying out a brand new computer, or maybe a fancy smartphone.

You will not be surprised to learn you are not alone - internet-enabled devices have been selling in their millions in the run up to Christmas. Many have been bought by parents eager to please their technology-hungry children.

For younger kids, today could be the first time they get their hands on their own computer or mobile.

It is a situation that can understandably leave parents feeling worried.

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NEWS: Russian Safer Internet Centre greets the New Year with a new web portal

The start of 2012 will see the launch of a new website from the Russian Safer Internet Centre. New forms of awareness work, specialisation of awareness materials, the need for better regional outreach and representation require new forms of information delivery – hence the focus for the new site. The new Safer Internet Centre web portal in fact consists of three awareness parts – for children, for youth and for adults. Each of them has a special design fitting the expectations of the target audiences along with a number of special awareness services and tools. News and events relating to online safety and the Safer Internet Centre more generally are presented in a special part of the web portal, which is not age relevant.

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NEWS / ONLINE SAFETY: Protecting Children Online

Whether it is identity theft, online tracking, or profiling, the Internet can be an open door to a child's personal information. A Wall Street Journal investigation into online privacy last year found that popular children's websites install more tracking technologies on personal computers than do the top websites aimed at adults. 

According to recent research by Consumer Reports, one million children were harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of cyberbullying on Facebook in the past year -- and that's just one social media site. Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says 8 percent of the ID theft complaints in 2010 involved children.

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ONLINE SAFETY / IT: Flashboy helps children stay safe online during the summer break (BULGARIA)

Summer is a season that is free of routines and strict schedules for kids and teens as well as for their parents and carers. The summer break relieves children from their student duties and responsibilities – rising early, spending their day in the classroom, doing homework and so on. Children have the opportunity to spend plenty of their time as they please. However, that lack of structure inevitably leads to more time spent in front of the computer in social networks, chats and online games.

As children spend more and more time on the internet, the probability of facing a risky situation grows exponentially. Although parents report increased anxiety towards their child’s behaviour online, they feel helpless in their efforts to take their children out of the virtual and back to the real world.

That was the motivation behind the Association Roditeli’s (the organisation in charge of the Bulgarian Helpline for Online Safety) initiative to organise a series of offline events promoting alternative free time activities for the whole family. It started in 2008 with Famillathlon – a celebration of family sports and healthy lifestyles.

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Implementation of the Safer Social Networking Principles for the EU

RESEARCH / INTERNET SAFETY: Online security not major concern for S'pore youths: survey

SINGAPORE: Singapore youths do not appear to be paying enough attention to online security and privacy, according to a survey by Singapore Polytechnic.

The youth and social media survey, which was run by second year Media and Communication students at Singapore Polytechnic, involved 800 Singaporeans aged between 15 and 35.

On average, youths are online for five hours a day, with four out of the five hours being spent on social networking sites like Facebook.

However, the time spent online is not matched by the attention and effort that should go to security settings, like the password. Close to 70 per cent of respondents have never changed their web passwords.

One in four does not use the privacy functions of social networking sites, while some 15 per cent are not even aware that such functions exist.

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NEWS: Digital Agenda: Commission to step up efforts to safeguard children online (EUROPE)

On the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2011, the European Commission today announced that it will step up talks with ICT industry and children's organisations to encourage the design of safer products to help keep children safe online.

Moreover, the Commission will shortly review the 2006 Recommendation on minors and how to protect them in audiovisual media and Internet and on the 2008 Communication on the protection of youngsters from harmful content in video games. Children are going online from a younger age and not just from computers, but also games consoles and mobile phones.

More than 82 % of 15-16 year olds in Europe have a social networking profile, as well as 26 % of 9-10 year olds. Safer Internet Day is being marked today in more than 65 countries around the world under the slogan "Internet is more than a game, it's your life!". This is supported by the EU's Safer Internet Programme, which helps parents and their children to be safe online. Children's safety online is an important part of the Digital Agenda for Europe (see IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200).

Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda said: “It is hard for parents to ensure their children are always safe online, especially as youngsters now access the Internet not just from PCs, but also via smart phones and games consoles. This places greater responsibility on the ICT industry to provide products and services that protect and empower children online. We have worked productively with social networks and mobile operators. Now we call on the whole chain of ICT industry to work together to do more to safeguard children online."

In response to changing patterns of technology used by youngsters, the Commission will work with new groups and industry-sectors to better protect children online. Manufacturers of mobile devices and game consoles, Internet service providers, social networking companies, mobile applications and content providers, consumer organisations, researchers and childrens' organisations will be invited to join the collaborative platform. This dialogue will build on the achievements of the Safer Social Networking Principles for the EU (see annex and IP/09/232, IP/10/144) and the European Framework for the Safer Mobile Use by Younger Teenagers and Children (see IP/07/139, IP/09/596, IP/10/704).

A recent pan-European survey shows that children go online more and more and that Internet use is becoming more personalised, with one out of three connecting via their mobile phones and one in four via game consoles. More than half of 13-16 year olds are accessing the Internet in their bedroom.

At the same time, 59% of 9-16 year olds have a social networking profile, with differences between countries ranging from 80% in The Netherlands to 46% in Romania. 26% of them have completely "public" profiles, ranging from 11% in the UK to a high of 54% in Hungary. 14% of children post their address and phone number on their profiles.

Safer Internet Day 2011 aims to remind young people that what they do or say online could break through into their "real" life even if they use an avatar or a nickname. The Safer Internet Day has been organised by INSAFE, the network of Awareness Centres and is supported by the EU's € 55 million Safer Internet Programme. It has taken place every year since 2004, with events in more than 65 countries in Europe and worldwide.

This year, for example, Ireland will launch a research project on children's use of the Internet and Bulgaria will launch a helpline where youngsters, parents and teachers can ask for personalised advice on online safety issues. In France, there will be special workshops in schools during the whole month of February. In Spain, an agreement for joint training sessions for minors at risk and their parents will be signed between the police, Madrid Municipality and several companies. Hungary, Latvia, Greece and The Netherlands will award their national winners of the Best Children's Online Content competition.

For more information:

Safer Internet Day:

http://www.saferinternet.org/web/guest/safer-internet-day

Safer Internet Programme:

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/index_en.htm

Concrete tips for parents on how to keep your child safe online

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/projects/centres/practices/index_en.htm

Source

RESOURCES: Educational resources 2010/11 - Download the best online safety resources from the Insafe Network

This second edition of Insafe's digipack contains a wide range of educational materials from across Europe.

These materials support teachers in educating pupils and colleagues to stay safe when they are using the internet and other online technologies. From handbooks for teachers to videos which support parents and children, there are 30 high quality resources which will be of great use to professionals working with children and young people.

Click on the links below for further information on the resources, by country here

AWARDS / INTERNET: European Award for Best Children's Online Content

The European Award for Best Children's Online Content is a competition organised jointly by the Safer Internet Centres in 14 Member States and the European Commission's Safer Internet Programme. The competition is organised for the first time in 2010-2011 as a pilot.

It will take place in two stages:

1. national competitions in 14 countries organised by the Safer Internet Centres (The opening and closing dates of the national competitions are decided by each country. Please consult the information for your country).
2. the first prize winners of the national competitions complete for the European Award (award in June 2011)

What is the purpose of the competition?

1. to showcase quality content targeting 6-12 year olds and which is already online
2. to encourage the production of quality online content which aims to benefit children in some way (educate, inform, stretch and stimulate imagination, enable new possibilities etc)

Find out why the Commission organizes this competition

Do you want to know more about how to produce and provide online content for children?
Download: Producing and providing online content for children and young people: An inventory

Who can take part ?

1. adults: this includes organisations, whether public, NGO or commercial, and private persons as individuals or as a group
2. young people: 12 to 17 years old

more info

PRESS RELEASE: EU Kids Online - Children need more help to block online threats says European internet study

Children need more help to block online threats says European internet study

Internet companies should provide more ways for children to block, filter or report alarming online content and contacts, recommends a new study for the European Commission.

The report suggests that both children and parents are reassured when given tools to take action against online dangers such as bullying, sexual content and intrusive strangers. Yet they often don’t use the options available (including online safety advice or the so-called ‘panic buttons’ operated by social networking sites) and the industry could do more to promote their use.

More than 25,000 children from across Europe (and one of their parents) were interviewed for the study, EU Kids Online, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science and funded by the Commission’s Safer Internet Programme.

The study revealed that while 70 per cent of parents talk to their children about what they do on the internet and more than half offer practical advice and support, relatively few use technical tools to help. Only 28 per cent choose to block or filter websites and 24 per cent track the websites visited by their child.

In fact, the survey shows, most children are not bothered or upset by what they encounter online – only 12 per cent say they have been. And while children said bullying was relatively uncommon with just one in 20 saying it had happened to them, children who had been bullied online were the most likely to say this upset them.

Across all media, 23 per cent of children have seen sexual or pornographic images in the past year with the internet now as common a source as TV, film and video. While this is much more likely for older teenagers, younger children are more bothered or upset by seeing sexual images. And children are going online at ever younger ages – at an average age of seven in Denmark and Sweden and eight in many other Northern European countries.

Sonia Livingstone, professor of media and communication at LSE and project director of EU Kids Online, said: ‘Parents and the online industry have taken some good first steps to make the internet a safer place for children but they could both do much more'.

‘Our research shows that children welcome their parents’ involvement with the risks of being online but that there are too few technical tools to help with blocking contacts, filtering unwanted content or reporting problems when they happen. Where these tools exist, we suspect there is little awareness of them and how to use them. We recommend that the industry builds more of these tools, does more to inform both parents and children about them, and makes them more user-friendly.’

The report also suggests targeting resource and guidance for safety at the ever younger children who now go online, as well as developing more positive content aimed specifically at children. However, the authors also emphasise that children should be encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety online as much as possible and that young people left behind in picking up digital skills should be offered extra training and support to broaden their opportunities.

Researchers surveyed children’s online experience in 25 European countries and the report presents the full findings and the team’s policy recommendations. Initial findings from the report were presented to the Safer Internet Forum in November 2010.

For more details, and a full copy of the report see www.eukidsonline.net

Ends

Notes to editors

1. The EU Kids Online project aims to enhance knowledge of European children’s and parents’ experiences and practices regarding risky and safer use of the internet and new online technologies, and thereby to inform the promotion of a safer online environment for children.

2. Countries included in EU Kids Online are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the UK.

The EU Kids Online network
Project website: http://www.eukidsonline.net/
Join our mailing list here: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EUKidsOnline/MailingList.htm

OPPORTUNITIES / AWARDS: European Award for Best Children's Online Content

The European Award for Best Children’s Online Content is a competition organised jointly by the Safer Internet Centres in 14 Member States and the European Commission’s Safer Internet Programme. The competition is organised for the first time in 2010-2011 as a pilot.

The aim of the competition is to showcase quality content for 6-12 year olds which is already online, and to encourage the production of quality online content which aims to benefit children in some way.

more info

EVENTS: Safer Internet Day 2011: Two months and counting...

Safer Internet Day is already in the air and, in a little more than two months, on 8 February 2011, the eighth edition of Safer Internet Day will be celebrated in more than 65 countries across the world.

This year, through the theme ‘virtual lives’ we invite you to discover how your real self survives the virtual experience.

In Europe and beyond, thousands of activities will be organised by our Safer Internet Day committees to reflect on the way people present themselves on the web, ranging from social networks and dating sites to online role-playing games such as Second Life and World of Warcraft. Staying online and being connected, whatever the circumstances, has indeed become critical for today’s youngsters. Not being connected frequently means social exclusion.

How do people shape their online identity? What is the social impact of these virtual identities on real life? In what ways is there a discrepancy between people’s identity in real life and what is shown online? All these questions will be at the heart of our actions. More information will be available soon on our website at www.saferinternetday.org.

Join us in a real celebration of our virtual lives by registering online or contacting your national awareness centre. And don’t forget, “It’s more than a game, it’s your life!”.

Source

EVENTS / CONFERENCES: Safer Internet Forum 2010

The 2010 edition of the Safer Internet Forum will take place in Luxembourg on the 21-22 October.

This year the Safer Internet Forum will focus on the results of two major research projects funded by the Safer Internet Programme: EUKidsOnline II, which surveyed children and parents in 25 European countries about internet use, and European Online Grooming Project, the first European research project that studies the characteristics and behaviour of sexual offenders who have used the internet to groom young people.

The results of research will be put in context in by 3 parallel sessions on 21 October and a plenary session on 22 October.

See the agenda

The Safer Internet Forum will be preceded by the second meeting of the Pan-European Youth Panel including young people from all the Member States, Norway, Iceland and Russia, as well as a European Panel of Parents. These two panels will take place on 20 October as closed meetings. The discussions in the panels will be fed into discussions at the Safer Internet Forum.

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ARTICLES / OPINIONS: Scare tactics, blocking sites can be bad for kids

Scaring children about the dangers of the Internet and blocking access to social-networking sites can do more harm than good, according to a report released Friday by a committee tasked by the U.S. government to explore online safety.

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RESEARCH: Children’s online risks and safety (UK)

This review presents findings from the mapping study carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), under the auspices of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCISS).

This report maps the latest relevant evidence on the main topics related to the online risks to children, draws out some of the key findings from the evidence, and indicates where there are currently gaps where future research may be needed.

The main topics investigated as part of the review include:

1. Evidence on access and use of the internet by children in the UK – Where, what, how often and with whom do children access the internet? And what are the links between location, social context, platform, what is accessed and how often and online risks?

2. Evidence on the characteristics of children accessing the internet – What are the characteristics of those accessing the internet in different ways in terms of their age, gender or socio-economic background? Are disadvantaged or vulnerable young peo- ple more or less likely to access the internet and are they more likely to encounter risks online?

3. Evidence on the online risks for children and young people – What evidence is there on young people's awareness and experience of different types of online risks, including online bullying, meeting and sharing details with strangers, accessing harmful or inappropriate content, enforcing negative behaviours and engaging in online sexual conduct?

4. Evidence on attempts at safeguarding children's online experiences – How aware are parents, teachers and children about ways of safeguarding from online risks? What is being done to try and safeguard children's online behaviour and how effective are such attempts? And what are children's experiences and attitudes towards safeguarding their online behaviour?

full report in PDF