Tuesday, February 7th, marked Safer Internet Day (SID), which is an annual global event that marks the benefits of online safety for children and youth. SID was first celebrated in Europe in 2004 and is now an international day of awareness and action to promote safe and healthy online habits for all.
Here we will take a look at the European Laws designed to protect children online and give you some tips on how to create safe online environments for children.
Ensuring Protection Online
In recent years the amount of time youngsters spend on screen time increased significantly, up to 1.5 times more in a relatively short amount of time, exposing children to more potential online risks. A recent survey that looked at the?perils of young children on social media?found that a shocking 17% of children surveyed have had a stranger ask which school they go to, and 14% say that they’ve been asked for their home address.?
The Safer Internet Day is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of online bullying, scams, and other online threats. European online safety initiatives, including European Commission’s 2022 Strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK) and the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), are designed to protect children, putting their interests at the forefront and ensuring that online content is safe and legal.?
Specification legislation varies from country to country but generally includes provisions that:
- Protect the privacy of online users
- Ban harmful or offensive content
- Ensure that online content is legal
European online safety laws are important?because they help ensure that users, including children, can safely and securely access the internet and trust the online content they encounter.
Responsibility to Educate Children
All governments, educators, and parents are responsible for educating and facilitating safe digital and online behaviours for children.?
Parents should be able to provide their children with the knowledge, values, and support they need to face negative content online. Some of the most significant disturbances children encounter online are someone being rude or swearing, seeing scary videos and images or online bullies.?
The best way to protect children online will vary depending on the age of the children. However, some general tips that can be helpful include:
- Make sure that children are aware of the dangers of online predators and that they do not share personal information or images with anyone they do not know.
- Make sure that all household members know how to use the internet safely and that they understand the dangers of online bullying.
- Ensure that all devices children use, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, are adequately secured and password-protected.
- Make sure that children are aware of the dangers of online scams, such as phishing and that they do not give out personal information, like their address or financial information, to strangers.
Shaping a Safer Future
Although it is vital to understand the risks, we should keep sight of the many benefits of using the internet for children. By making sure that safety laws are up to date and contributing to awareness projects such as Better Internet for Kids, we can continue to find ways to ensure the safety of children online.
