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European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
  • News article
  • 14 February 2023
  • European Health and Digital Executive Agency
  • 2 min read

Safer Internet – fostering online safety and well-being

SID2023 online safety and wellbeing

As digital technology evolves, it is essential for us to adapt, to learn and to change the way we use it.

As such, the work of the Safer Internet Centres (SICs) also needs to adapt to the new realities and evolve. While many of the resources developed by SICs are designed to reflect on harmful and illegal online content, they also aim to deliver positive content by teaching children and young people on how to fully benefit from digital technologies whilst maintaining their well-being.

Useful online safety and well-being resources

Thanks to their extensive expertise, SICs are at the forefront of providing advice on online safety and well-being. Below are some resources that you may find useful on this topic:

  • The Safer Internet Centre in Ireland launched the #TalkListenLearn campaign which includes awareness-raising videos, information packs for adults, a resource for parents called Talking Points for Parents and an online Topic Generator to facilitate discussions about online. The Centre has also published an article with useful tips on how to manage online wellbeing.
  • The Safer Internet Centre in Belgium has developed the iRespect tool, an online privacy educational kit available in French and Dutch, specifically designed for teachers who work with students aged 10-14. The Centre is also involved in the CSR programme "Internet Safe and Fun" where they run educational workshops together with employees from the industry to encourage young people to use digital resources creatively and to the best of their abilities, while remaining safe.
  • The Safer Internet Centre in Germany produced the educational handbook "Ommm online – How we increase our digital well-being", which focuses on digital wellbeing and tackles challenges related to the use of mobile devices by young users. In one episode of klicksafe’s podcast, the German SIC tries to further address how to keep the positives while avoiding the negatives in the use of mobile phones.
  • The initiative JÓVENES developed by the Safer Internet Centre in Spain shows how children and teenagers can help create a safer internet by looking for positive ways to develop and share content that benefits everyone. A dedicated Spanish app, "Protégete", is also available for young people.

Stay tuned for our next article on Safer Internet to be published on 28 February 2023 about media literacy and further information on the resources developed by the Safer Internet Centres.

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.

Useful resources

European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+)

Better Internet for Kids portal

Details

Publication date
14 February 2023
Author
European Health and Digital Executive Agency
Programme Sector
  • Digital
Programme
  • Connecting Europe Facility 1
  • Digital Europe Programme
Tags
  • Digital technology
  • Digital transformation
  • EUFunded