Today, more than 140 countries worldwide, including all 28 countries of the European Union, along with many organisational supporters, are celebrating Safer Internet Day (SID) for the fifteenth consecutive year. Initiated under the European Commission’s Safer Internet Programme and now continuing under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which co-funds Safer Internet Centres in the member states, the day marks an annual opportunity to engage in making the internet a safer and better place for our children and young people.
Organised by the Insafe network (coordinated by European Schoolnet, a network of 34 European Ministries of Education) and INHOPE (the International Association of Internet Hotlines), the profile of Safer Internet Day has grown significantly over the years. This year’s theme, “Create, connect and share respect: A better internet starts with you”, is a call to action for every stakeholder to play their part in creating a better internet for everyone and, in particular, the youngest users out there. More than that, it is an invitation for everyone to join in and engage with others in a respectful way in order to ensure a better digital experience.
Each year, thousands of exciting events and activities take place to mark the day and raise awareness of the issues, right across the globe. Find out what is happening in your country by visiting the Safer Internet Day website. A gallery of educational resources is also available on the site - schools and educators are encouraged to use it to help them raise awareness of safe and responsible use of the internet and other online services both in the classroom and with parents and carers, not just on SID but all year through.
Check out the 2018 infographic and follow Safer Internet Day events on Twitter using #SID2018 and #SaferInternetDay.