In the lead-up to this year's Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2023, the involvement of young people is taking centre stage, ensuring that the event truly reflects voices of today's digitally connected youth. Two key youth-driven groups, the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Youth Panel and the Safer Internet Forum Youth Advisory Group (SIF YAG), are working hard to shape the event. 

Youth participation was the key to success when the Swedish Safer Internet Centre (SIC) recently arranged a seminar at Almedalen Week on the isle of Gotland. High school student Huda Omar, who was also the moderator of the seminar, said it is important to give children and youth real and concrete opportunities to be involved.

In order to contribute to the fight against hate speech, the BEE SECURE initiative ran the #NOHATEONLINE campaign to raise awareness during the 2022-2023 school year.

Today, 15 September 2023, we celebrate the International Day of Democracy. The day is officially recognised as a United Nations observance. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of democracy worldwide. This year, the focus is on "Empowering the next generation," recognising young people's pivotal role in advancing democracy.

It’s September once again, which means it’s time for pupils to go back to school. Better Internet for Kids (BIK) wants to kick off the new school year with a campaign aimed at anyone working with children and young people to educate them to a safer, better internet experience, including teachers and educators, to support their activities and raise awareness of online safety topics in the classroom.

International Literacy Day, observed annually on 8 September, will be celebrated this year under the theme: "Promoting literacy for a world in transition". It will serve as an opportunity to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education and lifelong learning and to rethink the role of literacy in establishing inclusive, peaceful, just, and sustainable societies.

With summer in full swing, children often have more free time. As they explore the season’s wonders, we can encourage them to balance their online and offline activities, making the most of their time. While digital devices can be fascinating, we can encourage them to engage in creative activities that foster learning and interactions with others. Striving for balance will empower our children to enjoy the best of both worlds, promoting their physical and mental well-being, while making fond memories over the summer break. 

Hello, summer! For parents, it means more time to relax, and for children, more time to play. The digital world offers many opportunities to spend time and fight the occasional boredom. Embracing a balanced approach to digital devices can significantly improve family ties and children's physical, mental and emotional development. Encouraging responsible and mindful digital habits can foster solid relationships and well-being in the family. Here are eight tips to help ensure families' healthy use of digital devices.

On 30 July 2023, we commemorate the International Day of Friendship. This Initiative was launched by the United Nation (UN) in 2011 to encourage friendship between people, countries, cultures, and individuals to create harmony between communities and inspire peace efforts.

Today, we celebrate World Youth Skills Day 2023. Observed on 15 July each year, it serves as a global platform to emphasise the importance of equipping young people with the skills necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world.