Safer Internet Day 2024 – Together for a better internet

Safer Internet Day is a global initiative celebrated annually in February to raise awareness of online safety. This year Safer Internet Day will take place on Tuesday, 6 February 2024. 

From addressing cyberbullying to navigating social networking and digital identity issues, Safer Internet Day endeavours to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology, particularly among children and young people. It also aims to raise awareness about emerging online challenges and current concerns. The campaign targets children, young adults, parents, caregivers, educators, social workers, industry stakeholders, decision-makers, and politicians, urging everyone to contribute to a safer online environment. 

Safer Internet Centres (SICs) 

Under the Digital Europe 2021-2022 Work Programme, a budget of €22.6 million has been allocated to co-fund Safer Internet Centres (SICs) across 25 EU countries including Norway. These SICs provide vital online safety information, educational resources, public awareness tools, and counselling and reporting services through dedicated helplines and hotlines for children, parents, teachers, and professionals working with children. Furthermore, in the Digital Europe 2023-2024 Work Programme, €16.2 million have been earmarked to continue co-funding and supporting the work of Safer Internet Centres across Europe and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme.  

Throughout February, HaDEA will present thematic articles on online safety, putting under the spotlight initiatives of various Safer Internet Centres. 

Promoting online safety in Belgium 

As Belgium assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it underscores a critical commitment to addressing pressing issues within the European Union including the prevention of child abuse online. Belgium is determined to advocate for robust measures to safeguard children from harm while fostering a secure online environment conducive to their well-being and development.  

The Belgian Safer Internet Centre, currently co-funded under the Digital Europe Programme, is composed of Child Focus, Média Animation, Mediawijs and Conseil Supérieur de l’éducation aux Médias. Through media literacy initiatives for professionals, a helpline, and a hotline, the Belgian SIC works towards a better internet for all children in Belgium. 

On Safer Internet Day 2024, the Belgian Safer Internet Centre will primarily focus on addressing parents' needs, questions, and concerns regarding their children’s digital practices. It will provide new pedagogical and informative resources while raising awareness of the risks and opportunities associated with children being online. Through these initiatives, parents and experts will analyse current online challenges for families and propose solutions tailored to different family contexts, recognising the diverse needs of each family. 

Background information 

The Digital Europe Programme (DEP) will build on and continue to support the work of SICs which has already been carried out under the Connecting Europe Facility Telecom programme between 2015 and 2021. DEP aims to build the strategic digital capacities of the EU and to facilitate the wide deployment of digital technologies. With an overall budget of €7.5 billion, out of which €0.8 billion is managed by HaDEA, the programme will support investments in the following sectors: 

• High Performance Computing 

• Cloud, data, and Artificial Intelligence 

• Cybersecurity 

• Advanced digital skills 

• Accelerating best use of technologies 

HaDEA manages actions under Cloud, data and Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Digital Skills and Accelerating best use of technologies.