Today, 7 February 2023, the European Commission celebrates the 20th edition of Safer Internet Day, the flagship initiative created to empower children and younger people around the world to use digital technologies safely and more responsibly.
For this “anniversary edition” of Safer Internet Day, there is now available a child-friendly version of the Better Internet for Kids Strategy – translated in all official EU languages and in Ukrainian. It has also released a child-friendly version of the Digital Principles Declaration alongside an online game on Digital Principles, so children and teenagers can learn about their rights in the digital world.
Over the past year, the EU has introduced a number of tools that include measures to protect and empower young people online. These include the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, which has specific commitments regarding children online. It was signed by the Presidents of the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council in December 2022. In addition, the Digital Services Act that entered into force in November 2022 introduces strict rules to safeguard the privacy, safety and security of minors, and the European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) will improve age-appropriate digital services and contribute to ensuring that every child is protected, empowered and respected online.
European Commision Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, Dubravka Šuica, said:
“In all our work we strive to ensure that children’s rights apply online, as they apply offline. We are joining forces and ideas for a better and safer internet with equal opportunities and exciting discoveries for every child. We help build digital and media literacy skills of children and adolescents together with them to ensure that they are fully and equally included in the digital transition, in the EU and globally.”
Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said:
“After 20 editions of Safer Internet Day, the EU has a lot to be proud of. It has built a toolbox to empower and protect children and adolescents across the EU, and to make sure the next generation is digitally competent and confident. We will continue to work Together for a Better Internet, including on the Code of conduct on age-appropriate design which we will kick off soon.”
Keep an eye on the official Safer Internet Day Twitter and Facebook pages and follow the activities on social media with the hashtags #SaferInternetDay and #SID2023.
