Global Safer Internet Day 2014: “Let's create a Better Internet together”

Date: 11th February 2014
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

The Safer Internet Day was celebrated on 11th February in over 100 countries and is organised each year to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people.

Safer Internet Day is about a better Internet to encourage people of all ages to create good online content for youngsters.

The UK Safer Internet Centre is a partnership of three charitable organisations, Childnet International, the South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). The partners all work towards the Childnet target; to make the Internet a great and safe place for children.

This year, Scotland's Minister for Children and Young People, Aileen Campbell MSP, backed the global campaign and said that she hoped it would encourage more parents to talk to their children about the risks of going online.

• Read Aileen Campbell's article here.
• Find out more about online safety and cyberbullying here.

On a European level the European Commission Vice-President, Neelie Kroes, rewarded the creators of the best online content for kids and, together with INSAFE, will launch a Youth Manifesto on how to make a better Internet based on ideas from young people.

The awards were given to the adults and children from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia and the United Kingdom.

The European Commission has adopted a Communication on Internet Policy and Governance, which proposes a basis for common European vision. The document emphasises that "confidence in the Internet and its governance is a prerequisite for the realisation of the Internet's potential as an engine for economic growth and innovation".

• Find out more and read the full Communication here.