Children and young people have always been at the core of Better Internet for Kids (BIK) activities. This year, marking the European Year of Youth initiative, #DigitalDecade4YOUth consultation, and the launch of the BIK+ strategy, Better Internet for Kids aims to encourage youth participation and involve young people in shaping and leading BIK’s key annual conference – the Safer Internet Forum. 

It’s September, which means it’s time to go #BackToSchool for many pupils all around the world. There’s no better way to prepare for the return to school desks again than by joining in activities as part of the Positive Online Content Campaign (POCC) awareness month and be reminded of the importance of safe, playful, reliable online content for children.   

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.