Today marks the International Day of Friendship, celebrated every year on 30 July. The day was initiated by the United Nations (UN) in 2011 to promote "friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals" as a way to "inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities". 

Today marks the World Youth Skills Day 2022. Every year on 15 July, the day is celebrated around the world to promote the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. The day has been founded by the United Nations (UN). 

In May 2022, the European Commission adopted a new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+), to improve age-appropriate digital services and to ensure that every child is protected, empowered and respected online. Ten years after the first BIK strategy, BIK+ wants to spotlight the voices and opinions of European youth.  

The 14th edition of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Youth Panel is approaching and will culminate at Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2022 on 27 October in Brussels and online. 

On 21-22 June 2022, the Digital Assembly took place in Toulouse, France. The Digital Assembly is an annual event hosted jointly by the European Commission and the holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). It is a key forum for members of the European digital ecosystem to gather and discuss important issues. This year’s two-day conference included workshops, panel discussions and plenary sessions focusing on issues related to EU sovereignty and autonomy. In particular, a workshop on day one focused on the newly adopted European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+). BIK Youth Ambassadors Sina and Dimitris were there to share their views. 

The INHOPE network, a global network that fights child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, organised a webinar on proactive versus reactive hotline communication on 1 June 2022. Two senior BIK Youth Ambassadors, João Pedro Martins (Portugal) and Kathrin Morasch (Germany), were asked to share their opinions on campaigns that aim to reach young people.

The Digital Youth Forum (DYF) is an event designed for youth, by youth, and about youth on creative and innovative uses of new technologies and online safety. Organised by the Empowering Children Foundation as part of the Polish Safer Internet Centre, it’s a meeting of experts and inspiration seekers, creators and consumers, activists and dreamers. 

Today, the European Commission has adopted a new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+), with the aim to improve age-appropriate digital services and to ensure that every child is protected, empowered and respected online. This new strategy comes ten years after the first BIK strategy, and during the European Year of Youth, spotlighting the voices and ideas of young people themselves.

Every year, the Austrian Safer Internet Centre Saferinternet.at presents the current data on the use of different social media platforms by Austrian youth. Which social networks are currently the most popular among young boys and girls in Austria? The results are collected in the Youth Internet Monitor. 

Better Internet for Kids Youth Ambassadors and youth panellists from different countries in Europe were featured in ten short videos where they exchange views on their priorities online, the importance of digital skills, and their perspectives on how to ensure better online experiences in the future.