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Digital Citizenship

What Is Internet Safety and Why Is It Important to Teach?

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June 12th, 2019 | 12 min. read

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Internet safety is the practice of following actionable guidelines, understanding modern technology, and protecting your digital devices so you can defend against malicious parts of the online world.

It’s one of the main parts of a strong   digital citizenship program   in any school.

That’s because the internet provides near-instant satisfaction when looking up answers to questions, instructions on how to accomplish a task, and more.

But it’s also   packed   with potential dangers. Malware, phishing, scams, drive-by downloads, misrepresentation, and old-fashioned lies hide in every possible corner online, just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

So how can you prepare children and teens to successfully navigate this minefield of information?

It’s not easy — but the first step to   teaching i nternet safety is understanding it yourself!

What Does Internet Safety Entail?

Internet safety requires you to have a firm comprehension of the internet, what’s on it, how it’s used, and how it operates.

It also emphasizes understanding the lesser-known areas of the internet, like code, webpage interactions, and secure connections.

In general, you can break down internet safety into two categories —   behavior   and   knowledge .

If you’ve never had to teach internet safety before,   we recommend starting with seven  behavior  ideas that work in middle school and high school :

• Verifying someone’s identity
• Verifying a link is safe
• Identifying an online scam
• Protecting privacy
• Creating and using passwords
• Identifying cyberbullying
• Becoming a good digital citizen

Internet safety is truly an expansive space, and it requires a   knowledge   component as well — the kind of knowledge that helps you   use safe technology .

That includes:

• Understanding code
• Using ad blockers
• Identifying secure connections
• Using virtual personal networks (VPNs)
• Understanding your data and its value
• Knowing when your data is being collected
• Understanding how your data is used to advertise

Because these two lists are pretty long, we’ll dive into each one separately.

Let’s start with making safe choices!

Making Safe Choices

The most important part of internet safety is learning how to make safe choices.

That requires a lot of background knowledge, but it’s all actionable information that your students can use any time.

Using the points below, you can teach your students how to stay safe online by making the smartest and best choices available.

1. Verifying someone’s identity

The internet makes it a snap for anyone to falsify their identity.

All it takes is an   email   address, made-up name, and social media profile. With that done, any person on Earth can impersonate someone else.

Students can verify identities by searching someone’s name in search engines and multiple social networks — especially   LinkedIn .

Why is LinkedIn special?

Because it’s one of the hardest social profiles to fake!

LinkedIn essentially requires you to upload a full-fledged resume to join the network. Any LinkedIn profile with minimal information is immediately suspicious.

Facebook profiles with no friends, Twitter profiles with no followers, and Instagram profiles with   only   selfies are also suspicious.

Essentially, if someone seems   very into themselves   but doesn’t have the   online friends   to show for it, that person may be an imposter! 

2. Verifying a link is safe

In addition to verifying the identity of a stranger, students also need to know how to “read” a URL or link.

You can do this a couple of different ways.

First, students should understand the letters that start a URL — HTTP and HTTPS.

The easy to way to think of these is that HTTP is   unsecure   and HTTPS is   secure .

That means the URL goes to a trusted and well-maintained website, as opposed to a throwaway website that’s being used maliciously.

Second, students should also know about hovering. Hovering is when you place your mouse cursor over a link (without clicking it) to see the link embedded in the text.

99% of the time, these will be the same URLs. But 1% of the time, you may see that a link shows a   different   URL when hovering with your mouse cursor.

Don’t click these links! They may be deceptive, especially if the text of a link looks like you’ll go to one website but the embedded URL will send you somewhere else!

3. Identifying an online scam

Online scams often take the form of unsolicited emails, instant messages, or text messages.

Basically, they’re messages that come from unknown sources that tell the recipient to do something, like click a link.

As tempting or promising as the offer may be,   students need to know not to click the link !

Simply opening the link could subject the student’s computer to malware, viruses, ransomware, or some other villainous software.

4. Protecting privacy

Privacy is another key area of understanding where students make crucial choices.

Today, every social network asks for a name, email address, phone number, and more!

So where can you draw the line?

In the event your students choose to create social media profiles, it’s crucial that they’re careful about   publicly posting   their personal information.

They should hide their phone numbers. Their email addresses shouldn’t be searchable. In some networks, students may even be able to remove themselves from search results entirely, protecting them from random friend requests and online invasions of privacy.

As a rule of thumb, students should always keep their addresses and contact information secret, even from social networks that ask for them.

5. Creating and using passwords

Passwords are used in every account-based service online, from social networks to banks.

As a result, they’re crucial in maintaining the privacy and integrity of any student’s information.

This opens the door for you to teach your students about best practices when creating passwords.

Strong passwords tend to be:

• 10+ characters long
• Include letters, numbers, and other characters
• Unrelated to personal information
• Easy to remember
• Hard to guess

Creating good, unique passwords is a challenge for anyone — especially if they’re not tech-savvy. 

If you’d like your students to practice passwords before making them, you can use the   LastPass password tester   in your class.

6. Identifying cyberbullying

Because social networking and messaging is easier than ever, it’s also easier to harass people as well.

This unfortunate side-effect of the internet is called   cyberbullying , and it’s been a hot-button topic in schools for years now.

Cyberbullying is essentially insulting or harassing someone via the internet. While it’s mostly discussed in the context of children, teens, and young adults, it’s shockingly prevalent across all age ranges.

The major takeaway for students is   identification . Insults, jokes at someone’s expense, and repeated harassment are all callsigns of cyberbullying.

The effects can be devastating on the victims. Social media has a tendency to permeate our lives, and that’s amplified for teens and pre-teens who are highly involved in their social circles.

To prevent feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and worse outcomes, it’s crucial for students to know cyberbullying when they see it so they can do their part to stop the harassment.

7. Becoming a good digital citizen

Good   digital citizenship   means students know how to make safe choices when using the internet.

It also entails a general knowledge of technology, how the internet works, and warning signs that something may have gone wrong. 

In that respect, making smart choices on the internet is just the first step on the road for your students as they become responsible digital citizens. 

The next key area of internet safety is using — and understanding — safe technology.

Using Safe Technology

Using safe technology helps protect a student’s devices.

Understanding   safe technology helps protect   a student’s life . 

While this requires more information and a thorough   digital citizenship curriculum , it also gives your students the essential knowledge they need to protect themselves from digital pitfalls for the rest of their lives.

You can start by talking about code.

1. Understanding code

Code   is the back-end, written text that developers use to create webpages and webpage elements.

With it, developers can tell a webpage to show a certain image at a certain point. They can denote where a video should go and whether it should play automatically.

The options are nearly limitless!

Most of the code on the internet is in a language called   Hypertext Markup Language , or HTML. For the most part, HTML is a safe coding language that has very little opportunity to harm someone’s computer or steal someone’s information.

Other languages include   Java ,   CSS ,   Python ,   Ruby , and more. These languages all have their strengths and weaknesses, and some of them can be used maliciously.

Thankfully, these languages don’t show up   too   often except for in special online applications.

The best way for students to learn   about   code is to   learn  how  to code . Once students use the coding languages themselves, they’ll have a sharper idea of how those languages can be used online. 

2. Using ad blockers

Ads are everywhere these days. Unfortunately, very few ad providers actually check their advertisers to ensure they’re providing clean, safe ads on webpages.

This is where a lot of websites run into trouble. It’s possible for them to   unknowingly   serve malware or virus-infected ads that prompt what’s called a   drive-by download .

That means someone just needs to open a webpage and their browser will start downloading viruses, spyware, malware, or ransomware in the background — and nobody knows until it’s too late!

The best thing to do is to show students how to use ad blocker extensions in common web browsers, like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

Yes, ads play a vital role in helping companies keep the lights on.

But so few companies perform quality assurance checks on their ads for malicious code, and cybercriminals will always strive to stay one step ahead of the people who may catch them.

As a result, the best solution is for your students to use ad blockers!

3. Identifying secure connections

Secure connections are essential to ensuring someone’s personal information goes directly to a website and isn’t intercepted, decrypted, or misused by malicious third parties.

Thankfully, secure connections are easy to identify. Just look for the   HTTPS   at the beginning of a website’s URL.

The   S   indicates that the website uses something called   secure socket layers , which is essentially an extra layer of security that protects information as it goes from a student’s computer to the website’s servers.

You can also teach students about   virtual personal networks , or VPNs. These are encrypted micro-networks that add   even more   security to information that’s transmitted from someone’s device to another area.

With HTTPS websites and an always-on VPN equipped to a device, students can protect themselves from almost all of the internet’s dangers when it comes to transmitting data.

4. Using virtual personal networks (VPNs)

Speaking of VPNs, it’s important to understand how they work.

A VPN establishes a secure connection between someone’s device and a proxy location. In addition, the VPN creates a digital “shell” that protects that connection.

So if you imagine a standard internet connection as a copper wire, a VPN internet connection would be like that copper wire covered in a thick layer of rubber for protection and waterproofing.

In addition, VPNs prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from tracking a lot of your browsing activity online. This is important because it’s legal for ISPs to sell anyone’s browsing information to marketing firms to create targeted advertising.

VPNs stop that dead in its tracks. It’s just a safer way to use the internet! 

5. Understanding your data and its value

So why should you and your students care that ISPs, social networks, and third-party operators have access to your data?

Because in today’s fast-paced, information-based world,   personal data is a valuable commodity .

Packages of data are sold among companies just like any other product. The most recent example of this is the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal that revealed enormous breaches of personal privacy and dozens of security concerns.

Essentially, every student in your classroom is valuable to an advertiser. Because of that, their information has value for the social networks, ISPs, and other companies that collect it.

The less a student tells these websites about themselves, the less likely they’ll be to have their information packaged and sold to the highest bidder.

6. Knowing when your data is being collected

How do you know when your or your students’ data is being collected?

Because of a European law called the   General Data Protection Regulation   (GDPR), any website that has traffic or customers in Europe must disclose when someone is being tracked.

The method of this tracking is often through something called a “cookie,” or a unique identifying code that makes one person stand out against the millions who may visit a website.

So while American or Asian websites   don’t   have to disclose their tracking information by law, they still do it to accommodate their European usership.

As a result, you’ll often see websites with popups that say they’re currently tracking you.

7. Understanding how your data is used to advertise

Finally, it’s essential that students understand how their data is used to advertise to them.

As we established before, third-party agencies will collect and sell anyone’s information for a price. Then, the people who   buy   that information can use it to deliver targeted advertisements to individuals through different means.

Have you ever talked to your friend about a brand or product only to open your Facebook account and see an ad for it right away?

Have you ever texted someone about a book you wanted to read and then saw it as an ad at the top of Amazon?

This isn’t an accident. Advertisers have never had more access to information about you, your students, or anyone else in the world.

As a result, they have a   very   sharp idea about what they can offer people.

If you or your students see ads on social networks or shopping websites, remember that they’re not there by accident!

Those ads are placed through a complex series of identification and delivery systems. Even if they show something that you want, it’s smartest   not   to click on them since you also don’t know where the ad may lead! 

Teach Internet Safety as Part of a Digital Citizenship Curriculum

Learning and practicing internet safety is critical for your students to stay safe in a technologically-driven world. But without the right curriculum resources, your students are at risk of not learning essential information that will help them become good digital citizens.

When you teach the internet safety concepts in this article, you’ll be well on your way to ensuring your students are prepared to work in the digital world.

But how can you be sure you meet your standards for internet safety and other critical digital citizenship topics? Consider adopting a comprehensive curriculum system such as iCEV. 

The iCEV curriculum includes material to help meet your standards for internet safety, digital citizenship, and more.

Visit the curriculum page   to learn more about topics you can teach with iCEV to decide if it’s right for your classroom.

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Internet Safety for Kids  - Teaching Kids About Internet Safety

Internet safety for kids  -, teaching kids about internet safety, internet safety for kids teaching kids about internet safety.

Internet Safety for Kids: Teaching Kids About Internet Safety

Lesson 1: teaching kids about internet safety,  teaching kids about internet safety.

The Internet can be a wonderful place to learn, shop, play games, and talk to your friends. Unfortunately, there are also predators, identity thieves, and others online who may try to harm you. In order to be safe online, it's important for you and your kids to be aware of the dangers.

Many kids are confident that they know how to be safe online. However, there are a few reasons kids are often more at risk. They may not always think about the consequences of their actions, which can cause them to share too much information about themselves. Kids also are sometimes specifically targeted by cyberbullies or predators.

If you're a parent or guardian, you can help to keep your kids safe by talking to them about their Internet use , teaching them about online dangers , and learning everything you can about the Internet so you can make informed decisions.

About this tutorial

This tutorial is designed for any parent or guardian who wants to learn how to keep their kids safe online. You may want to review our Internet Safety tutorial first so you'll have a basic understanding of online safety. Throughout this tutorial, we'll link to other resources you can use if you want more information. We'll also link to some activities, videos, and other resources that are geared toward kids and teens. You may want to show these resources to your kids or even work through them together.

If you want to learn the basics of using the Internet, you can also check out our Internet Basics , Email 101 , and Beyond Email tutorials.

Understanding online dangers

In order to keep your kids safe, you'll need to know about the different types of online dangers that exist. For example, kids and teens may find inappropriate content on the Internet, such as pornography or obscene language. There is also a possibility of cyberbullying or cyberharassment from others online. This does not mean your child will encounter all of these threats. However, knowing about the dangers can help you and your kids make smart decisions online.

Review the interactive below to learn about some of the dangers kids can encounter online.

Malware is malicious software that is designed to damage your computer or steal your personal information . It includes viruses, spyware, and other types of software.

Malware is often secretly bundled with other software, and it can also infect email attachments.

Cyber-stalking

Cyber-stalking is any kind of harassment or threatening behavior that occurs online. It can happen through instant messaging, text messaging, email, or social networks. If the perpetrator is a child or teen, it is often called cyberbullying .

In the online world, piracy refers to illegally sharing copyrighted materials . This can include music, movies, TV shows, and software. For many kids, sharing files may seem innocent, but it can result in stiff penalties.

Phishing is a type of scam where the scammer tries to trick you into revealing your personal information . Usually, it involves an email, instant message, or website that is designed to look like it's from a legitimate company.

The Internet contains a lot of content you probably don't want your kids to see, including pornography, violent content, and vulgar language .

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying that occurs online , often through instant messaging, text messaging, email, and social networks.

Cyberbullies may be the same age as the victims, or they may be older. If the perpetrator is an adult, it is generally called cyber-stalking or cyberharassment .

Revealing too much

Many kids and teens like to post photos and share information about themselves. In some cases, this information can be used by online predators .

It's also possible for an embarrassing photo to damage a kid's or teen's reputation . This can affect their social life, and it may even come back to haunt them years later when they're applying for a job.

Other types of dangers

Whenever someone uses a computer, there is a risk of eye strain , wrist strain , and other injuries . You can help prevent this by limiting the amount of time your kids spend on computers and mobile devices. For tips on avoiding injury, read Creating a Safe Workspace in our Computer Basics tutorial.

There's also another reason to limit your kids' Internet use: Because people are spending more and more time online, Internet addiction is becoming a more significant problem. Internet use can be a good thing, but if it becomes an addiction it can affect a person's offline life.

Places where dangers can occur

It's important for kids to be careful whenever they're connected to the Internet because online dangers are not just limited to bad websites . Chat rooms, computer games, and even social networking sites can be risky. If your kids have mobile phones, they'll also need to be careful when texting or when accessing the Internet on their phones.

Review the slideshow below to learn about some of the places online where kids can be at risk.

Guidelines for keeping your kids safe

It can be difficult to keep your kids completely safe online. Even if you set up parental controls on your home computer, your kids will use many other computers that don't have parental controls. To keep your kids safe, you'll need to teach them to make good decisions online—even when you're not around.

Below are some general tips you can use when teaching your kids about online safety:

• Learn everything you can about the Internet. Being familiar with the Internet will not only help you understand the risks, but it will also help you talk to your kids.
• Set standards for what your kids can and cannot do online. It's important to make rules for your kids so they know what's expected of them. Don't wait until something bad happens to start creating guidelines.
• Teach your kids to keep personal information private . It's usually a bad idea to post personal information online such as phone numbers, addresses, and credit cards. If criminals gain access to this information, they can use it to harm you or your family.
• Teach your kids to use social networking sites safely. Sites like Facebook allow kids—and adults—to share photos and videos of themselves, as well as have conversations with friends and strangers. If your kids share something with friends, it's still possible for it to get into the wrong hands. Generally, they should only post something online if they're comfortable with everyone in the world seeing it.
• Encourage your kids to come to you if they encounter a problem. If your child gets into trouble online, you'll want him or her to come to you instead of hiding it. Keep in mind that your kids could accidentally encounter a bad site, even if they're doing everything right.
• Talk to your kids about Internet use. Talk to your kids regularly about how they use the Internet. If they're in the habit of talking to you about the Internet, they'll be more willing to come to you if there's a problem.

The Federal Trade Commission has videos and other resources you may find helpful. Watch the following video to learn more about talking to your kids about Internet safety.

Minimizing risks at home

If you have a home computer your kids use, there are some extra precautions you can take to make it safer. Remember that your kids will probably use many other computers, and these precautions won't keep them safe when they're not at home. Also, keep in mind that these are merely suggestions; depending on your parenting style and your kids' ages, you may choose not to use all of them.

• Keep the computer in the living room or in another common area. By putting the computer in a common area of the house, you can reduce the chance that they'll talk to strangers or visit inappropriate websites. For teens, you may choose to give them more freedom about where they use the computer (especially if they have their own computers).
• Install antivirus software. Viruses and other malware are a risk for any computer (although Macs are slightly safer). To protect your computer, you can install antivirus software such as BitDefender or Norton .
• Use a kid-friendly search engine. Regular search engines may return results with inappropriate content you don't want your kids to see. However, there are some search engines that are designed to only return kid-friendly results (although there is still the possibility of inappropriate results getting through). Examples include KidTopia and KidRex.org .
• Use parental controls. Windows and Mac OS X allow you to add parental controls to user accounts. These include time limits , website restrictions , and controlling which applications can be opened . You can also buy parental control software like Net Nanny , which has versions for Windows and Mac.

Creating an Internet safety contract

Once you've established Internet guidelines, you may want to put them in writing. You can create an Internet safety contract your kids can sign, and then you can keep a copy of it near the computer.

There are also premade contracts you can download and print. One example is the Family Online Safety Contract , which you can download from the Family Online Safety Institute . In addition to a contract, it includes a contract for parents, which contains guidelines you may find helpful.

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Speech on Importance Of Internet

The Internet, like a worldwide web, connects you to the rest of the world. It’s like a vast ocean of information, readily available at your fingertips.

Without it, imagine how difficult it would be to send emails, do research, or even make online purchases. The Internet is indeed a valuable tool in our daily lives.

1-minute Speech on Importance Of Internet

Friends, today we’re talking about an essential part of our daily lives – the Internet. Why is it so important? Let’s discuss.

The Internet makes our world smaller. Think about it. We can talk to anyone, anywhere, any time. You can chat with your friend from the next city or even from the other side of the world. The Internet erases the lines on the map, making us all neighbors.

Learning is easier with the Internet. Type a question into Google and you get your answer. No more thick, heavy books. No more long walks to the library. The Internet is like a giant teacher that knows everything. It’s a school that’s open 24/7, waiting for you to learn.

The Internet helps us do things faster. Paying bills, shopping, booking tickets – all done with a few clicks. No long lines, no waiting. It’s like having a magic wand that gets things done instantly.

But the Internet also has a heart. It helps us during tough times. When floods, fires, or sickness come, we can use the Internet to ask for help. It brings us together, helping us care for each other.

In conclusion, the Internet is more than just wires and screens. It’s a tool that brings us closer, makes our lives easier, and helps us when we’re in need. It’s a friend, a teacher, a helper. It’s a part of our lives that’s here to stay. Let’s use it wisely and make the most of what it offers.

2-minute Speech on Importance Of Internet

Good day to you all!

Let’s talk about something that surrounds us every day, the Internet. Imagine a world without it. Tough, isn’t it? That’s because the Internet has become a crucial part of our lives. It’s like a giant invisible web that links us all, no matter where we are.

First, let’s talk about communication. Gone are the days when we had to wait weeks for a letter. Now, we can instantly send messages, photos, and even video calls to anyone, anywhere. It’s like having a magic tool that helps us talk to our friends, family, or even strangers around the world.

Next, let’s talk about learning. The Internet is like a vast ocean of knowledge. Whether it’s homework help, learning a new language, or even cooking a new dish, the Internet has answers to all our questions. It’s like a huge library that’s open 24/7. We can learn new things and improve our skills, all thanks to the Internet.

Now, let’s discuss entertainment. From listening to music, watching movies, playing games, to exploring new places virtually, the Internet offers endless fun. It’s like a playground where we can enjoy and relax whenever we want.

Also, we can’t forget about shopping. The Internet has made buying things a breeze. We can purchase anything, from clothes, food, gadgets, to even furniture, without leaving our home. It’s like having a giant shopping mall at our fingertips.

Lastly, let’s talk about how the Internet helps us stay updated. Whether it’s news about our city, country, or the world, the Internet keeps us informed. It’s like a big newspaper that updates itself every second.

In conclusion, the Internet is a powerful tool that has transformed our lives. It helps us communicate, learn, entertain ourselves, shop, and stay updated. It’s like a magic wand that can fulfill our needs and wants. But remember, like all powerful tools, we should use the Internet responsibly.

Thank you for your time. Remember, the Internet is not just a network of computers, it’s a network of possibilities. Embrace it, use it wisely, and it will open doors to a world of opportunities.

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Digital safety is at a crossroads – here's how we navigate online threats globally

Collaboration and a unified approach is crucial to navigate digital safety globally. Image:  Unsplash/Firmbee.com

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Stay up to date:, cybersecurity.

• As online threats become more diverse and complex and as we enter a huge election year, the urgency to ensure a safe online environment has never been greater.
• Safer Internet Day takes place in February of each year to raise awareness about the importance of building safer online ecosystems for everyone.
• The World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety is a multi-stakeholder initiative that fosters global collaboration for enhanced digital safety.

A recent survey conducted by Microsoft has brought to light a disturbing revelation: a staggering 69% of the 16,000 respondents across 16 countries encountered online risks within the past year. This alarming statistic underscores the pervasive nature of digital threats, including misinformation, disinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech and threats of violence, underscoring the pressing need to confront these global challenges.

As Safer Internet Day passes on 6 February 2024, we must collectively address online harms and acknowledge how trust and safety will be undermined this year. As such, the Global Coalition for Digital Safety has been working towards tangible outcomes to elevate digital safety standards in the face of an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Have you read?

Digital safety: we are shaping a more secure digital future, digital safety: how a multi-faceted approach can help tackle real-world harm, only a global response can tackle the rise of online harms. here's why, online safety in 2024.

This year, there has been a greater sense of urgency when creating a secure digital environment with more foundational regulations.

Legislation, such as the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act and the European Digital Safety Act, that have imposed more robust risk assessments and emphasis on transparency, is coming into effect. Similar regulations are underway in Canada, the United States and South Africa, signifying a global push towards enhanced online safety frameworks.

At a United States Senate hearing last week, CEOs of major social media platforms faced scrutiny over alleged shortcomings related to the safety of children and young people on their platforms. The hearing ignited calls for increased regulation and implementing “reasonable measures” to protect children online.

In this context, the trust and safety industry is expanding, including the surge in investment in safety tech. According to a recent report from Public , between 2021 and 2023, investments in safety tech tripled compared with the previous decade, reaching a staggering $4.8 billion. This industry, focused on protecting users, is becoming a crucial player complementing cybersecurity.

Disinformation and misinformation also stand out as significant challenges this year, recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk 2024 report as the most severe global risks for the next two years, when national elections are occurring in 64 countries .

Technology developments, such as artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI (GenAI), also constitute challenges to online safety in the form of deepfakes, for instance. However, they can also be used to detect such harms, including through advancing content moderation and mitigation techniques.

The Global Coalition for Digital Safety

In this dual context of challenges and opportunities, coordination, common frameworks and best practices are paramount to ensure a cohesive approach to safety and foster trust globally in digital spaces. The Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety is committed to enhancing digital safety worldwide.

This multi-stakeholder coalition brings together over 40 members, including tech giants such as Meta, Amazon, TikTok and Google; eSafety company Activefence; the Digital Trust & Safety Partnerships; the governments of Belgium and Singapore; regulators in the United Kingdom and Australia; universities such as Oxford and Stanford; and UN agencies, such as its International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

To address the many complexities of digital safety, the coalition has developed a comprehensive toolkit of reports and tools designed in collaboration with all stakeholders, which build upon and supplement each other. The outputs are to help policymakers, industry leaders, civil society organizations, researchers, and individuals address harmful online content in a rights-compliant way.

In an interconnected world, our shared commitment to fostering a digital environment that is safe, respectful and enriching requires a heightened sense of responsibility.

Our initial focus has been developing the Global Principles on Digital Safety to foster commitment across sectors, empowering stakeholders to implement practical strategies for enhancing digital safety within their organizations and communities. The principles also serve as a compass for the coalition towards solutions to some of the most pressing digital safety challenges.

One challenge that has been recognized is the need for standardized language to address online harms. The coalition has responded by formulating the Typology of Online Harms to align perspectives universally.

The coalition also considers how the digital safety ecosystem is developing and different stakeholder needs, which the Risk Assessment Framework aims to address in light of emerging regulations. The proposed framework draws on existing human rights principles, enterprise risk management best practices and evolving regulatory requirements to identify what factors should feed into any mapping of digital safety risks. In addition, recognizing the importance of creating real-world change, it provides various case studies and actual experiences in risk frameworks.

Through these outputs, the coalition has harmonized various perspectives, enhancing how companies, governments and civil society organizations comprehend and navigate digital safety risks.

The 2024 agenda

The coalition has committed to creating tangible change in addressing the complex arena of digital safety through a systematic methodology informed by lived experience and case studies.

The coalition has four focus areas for 2024:

• Measuring digital safety: We are working to define how to measure digital safety better to track the real impact of the efforts and actions of stakeholders. While there is a recognized challenge in measuring safety, the coalition aims to identify these challenges and provide a classification to think about metrics and measurements for online safety. This work complements the Risk Assessment Framework and can be used in the context of present and emerging regulations.
• Digital safety effective interventions: Preparing a map of effective interventions for digital safety, drawing on safety-by-design principles and best practices to help companies identify and reduce digital risks that can be effective in the real world. These interventions will span technical, educational, policy and behavioural strategies.
• Thinking about future harms: As online threats and emerging technologies evolve, a forward-thinking approach is necessary to foresee future harms via a strategic roadmap with innovative approaches ready to address them.
• Media information literacy to tackle disinformation: We are exploring how media information literacy can address disinformation via a whole-of-society approach. Countering false information is a responsibility that falls on all sectors of society, not just individuals, platforms or regulators. This focus area also aims to add to the discourse around disinformation in the context of the 2024 elections worldwide.

At the same time, the coalition will continue raising global awareness of digital safety, contributing to international discussions and facilitating the exchange of ideas and information to increase trust and safety online.

Join our global efforts

Join the coalition in our collective mission for a safer digital landscape. As we invite organizations and industry leaders to contribute to this vital cause, we must recognize the greater responsibility we all bear. In an interconnected world, our shared commitment to fostering a digital environment that is safe, respectful and enriching requires a heightened sense of responsibility.

Safer Internet Day has served as a moment of reflection and a resounding call to action, urging us all to actively participate in shaping a digital world that prioritizes safety for every user. Together, let’s make a tangible difference and champion the values of a trustworthy, secure and inclusive online space.

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Protecting children online, every child must be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse on the internet..

• Violence against children
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Children are spending more time online than ever before. And they’re getting there sooner. Around the world, a child goes online for the first time every half second.

Growing up online offers limitless opportunities. Through computers, smartphones, gaming consoles, and televisions, children learn, imagine and develop their social networks. When used in the right way – and accessible to all – the internet has the potential to broaden horizons and ignite creativity the world over.

But with these opportunities come serious risks.

Cyberbullying and other forms of peer-to-peer violence can affect young people each time they log in to social media or instant messaging platforms. When browsing the internet, children may be exposed to hate speech and violent content – including messages that incite self-harm and even suicide.

Children can also be put at risk when tech companies breach their privacy to collect data for marketing purposes. Child-targeted marketing through apps – and the excessive screen time it often results in – can compromise a child’s healthy development.

More than a third of young people in 30 countries report being cyberbullied, with 1 in 5 skipping school because of it.

Most alarming is the threat of online sexual exploitation and abuse . It has never been easier for child sex offenders to contact their potential victims, share imagery and encourage others to commit offences. Children may be victimized through the production, distribution and consumption of sexual abuse material, or they may be groomed for sexual exploitation, with abusers attempting to meet them in person or exhort them for explicit content.

In the digital world, any person from any location can create and store sexually exploitative content. Child sex offenders may even livestream sexual abuse from the confines of their homes, directing on-demand abuse of children far away.

Some 80% of children in 25 countries report feeling in danger of sexual abuse or exploitation online.

As children embrace more digital platforms, they too may self-generate sexually explicit imagery. And though these images might be intended for an age-appropriate relationship, they can end up widely shared without consent. Sometimes, trusted adults solicit children to share imagery. For a child victim, this may result in social isolation, mental health issues, substance abuse, self-harm or suicide, as well as an increased likelihood of exhibiting abusive behaviours themselves in adulthood.

UNICEF’s response

What happens online reflects the realities children face every day – at home, at school and in their wider communities.

Strategies to promote online safety must protect the educational and health benefits of digital technologies, while addressing the risks of exposure to violence, exploitation, and abuse, as well as to privacy breaches.

UNICEF works to make the internet a safe place for children to learn, socialize and express themselves. We partner with governments to advocate for necessary regulation, and with tech companies to promote the use of acceptable safety measures on their platforms. We also support ministries of education to teach children digital-literacy and online-safety skills.

Through our Global Kids Online   and Disrupting Harm projects, we gather evidence on children’s digital rights, opportunities and risks to better understand how use of digital technology contributes to their lives – and when it amplifies their risk of harm.

How does UNICEF address the online sexual exploitation of children?

UNICEF prevents and responds to the online sexual exploitation of children at the country and global level. We support coordinated national responses to online child sexual exploitation in over 20 countries – using the WePROTECT Global Alliance model – and strengthen the capacity of on-the-ground responders to provide services to victims. We work closely with governments to guide investments in evidence-based preventive programmes and awareness-raising. And we collaborate with tech companies to make digital products safer for children, providing industry guidelines and developing cutting-edge tools to stop the circulation of child sexual abuse materials.

More from UNICEF

Growing concern for well-being of children and young people amid soaring screen time

Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it

What teens want to know about cyberbullying

DR Congo: Children killed, injured, abducted, and face sexual violence in conflict at record levels for third consecutive year – UNICEF

On World Poetry Day, hundreds of children affected by conflict and war share Poems for Peace

Ending online child sexual exploitation and abuse , addressing technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse in the face of covid 19  , covid-19 and its implications for protecting children online: a technical note from unicef and partners, the state of the world’s children, 2017: children in a digital world, perils and possibilities: growing up online, guidelines for industry on online child protection  , advocacy brief: child online protection, weprotect global alliance: intelligence brief impact of covid-19 on online child sexual exploitation, weprotect global alliance: global threat assessment, 2019 – working together to end the sexual exploitation of children online, weprotect global alliance: preventing and tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse – a model national response, weprotect global alliance: working examples of model national response capabilities and implementation, global kids online, disrupting harm, online course: action to end child sexual exploitation and abuse, legislating for the digital age: global guide on improving legislative frameworks to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse framing the future: how the model national response framework is supporting national efforts to end child sexual exploitation and abuse online.

Last updated 23 June 2022

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More so than adults, U.S. teens value people feeling safe online over being able to speak freely

Teens and adults in the United States differ on a key issue tied to online speech and its consequences. A majority of teens ages 13 to 17 say a welcoming, safe online environment is more important than people being able to speak their minds freely online, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. A separate survey of Americans 18 and older shows that adults’ views on the same question are more evenly divided.

Overall, 62% of teens say people being able to feel welcome and safe online is more important than people being able to speak their minds freely online, while 38% hold the opposite view. By comparison, half of adults say a welcoming and safe online environment is more important, while a similar share (47%) put more value on people being able to speak their minds freely online.

Adults ages 18 to 29 differ from their younger teen counterparts on this question. Some 57% of adults in this age group favor the idea that people should be able to speak their minds freely online. Those 65 and older, by contrast, are the only age group whose views are similar to teens’: 58% of these Americans say feeling welcome and safe online is more important.

Pew Research Center conducted these studies to understand teens’ and adults’ views about online speech and the broader online environment. This analysis relies on data from two separate surveys. For the analysis of teens, the Center conducted an online survey of 1,316 U.S. teens from April 14-May 4, 2022, via Ipsos. Ipsos recruited the teens via their parents who were a part of its  KnowledgePanel , a probability-based web panel recruited primarily through national, random sampling of residential addresses. The teen results are weighted to be representative of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with parents by age, gender, race, ethnicity, household income and other categories. The research was reviewed and approved by an external institutional review board, Advarra, which is an independent committee of experts that specializes in helping to protect the rights of research participants.

For the separate analysis of adults, the Center surveyed 3,581 U.S. adults from March 21-27, 2022. All adults who took part in the survey are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey of adults is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the  ATP’s methodology .

Here are  the questions used for the survey of teens, along with its methodology ; and here are the questions used for the survey of adults, and its methodology .

But there is also nuance in people’s views of online speech. For example, when asked which of two statements about the way people react to offensive content online comes closer to their view, the majority of teens (59%) think that many people take such content too seriously, as do 54% of adults. Smaller shares in both groups believe offensive content online is too often excused as “not a big deal” (40% of teens and 44% of adults).

Similar to teens, about six-in-ten adults ages 18 to 29 (62%) say offensive content is taken too seriously, as do 56% of those ages 30 to 64. By contrast, just 41% of adults 65 and older say the same.

These new results are from two Center surveys – one of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted April 14-May 4, 2022, and one of U.S. adults conducted March 21-27, 2022. They come in the wake of heightened bipartisan calls for tech companies to address cyberbullying and create a safe environment for teens. They also come amid continued court battles over whether schools can impose consequences on adolescents for what they say online – and broader debates about people being banned by social media platforms or “ canceled ” by their peers.

Politics shapes views about online discourse among both teens and adults

In both surveys, Americans’ views on these topics break sharply along partisan lines. But regardless of what party they identify with or lean toward, teens are more likely than adults with similar partisan leanings to say allowing for safe spaces online is more important than being able to speak freely online.

Some 71% of teens who identify as Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party say this, compared with 62% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning adults. About half of Republican-identifying or GOP-leaning teens (49%) also back a welcoming and safe environment – 13 percentage points greater than the share of Republican and GOP-leaning adults (36%) who hold the same view.

Among both teens and adults, though, there are substantial differences by party. Republican teens are 23 points more likely than Democratic teens to say being able to speak freely online is more important. Among adults, Republicans are 26 points more likely than Democrats to say the same. Democratic adults instead are more likely to favor welcoming, safe spaces by the same margin.

On the question of offensive content, teens’ and adults’ views within each party are similar. Gaps between parties emerge for both teens and adults: Democratic teens are more likely than Republican teens to say that offensive content online is too often excused as not a big deal (50% vs. 27%), and there is a similar pattern for Democratic versus Republican adults (55% vs. 32%). By comparison, 72% of Republican teens and 67% of Republican adults say many take offensive content they see online too seriously.

Among adults, views on these topics within each political party have continued to evolve over the past several years. In 2017, when Pew Research Center first asked adults these questions, Democrats and Republicans held largely similar views about the balance of online safe spaces versus freedom of expression. That changed in 2020 and the partisan split on this question has widened from 16 to 26 points in the past two years. On the question about offensive content online, the partisan gap among adults has slightly narrowed since 2020 but remains pronounced. Adults’ overall views on this question have remained largely unchanged during this period.

The changes since 2020 are largely driven by those at the ideological poles in their respective parties. The share of conservative Republican adults who say free speech is more important in this context has risen from 57% in 2020 to 68% today, even as the view that offensive content is taken too seriously among that group has dipped somewhat from 74% to 67%. Liberal Democrats are now slightly more likely to think offensive content is taken too seriously than in 2020 (rising from 31% to 39%), but the majority of this group think it’s too often excused as not a big deal (61% say this today, compared with 68% in 2020).

Attitudes among teens, adults also differ by demographic factors

Views of the online environment that teens and adults encounter also vary by race, ethnicity and gender. 

For example, Black and Hispanic teens are more likely than their White peers to say that feeling welcome and safe online is more important than free speech online, and that offensive content is too often excused as not a big deal.

Among adults, those who are Black (60%) are more likely than either White (50%) or Hispanic (46%) adults to prioritize feeling welcome and safe. Black adults are also more likely than Hispanic adults to say offensive content is too often excused as not a big deal (51% vs. 38%). The views of White and Hispanic adults are statistically similar on both questions. (There were not enough Asian teens or adults in the samples to be broken out into a separate analysis. As always, their responses are incorporated into the general population figures throughout this analysis.)

Teen girls are also more likely than teen boys to prioritize feeling welcome and safe and to say offensive content is too often excused. Similarly, adult women (58%) are more likely than adult men (42%) to value a welcoming, safe environment and to feel people too often excuse offensive material as not a big deal (50% vs. 38%).

In many cases, differences are still present when accounting for other relevant characteristics that may be playing a role. Differences in by party and gender remain among teens on both questions when controlling for other factors, as do differences by race and ethnicity for views of offensive content. Among adults, party, age and gender matter after controlling for demographics.

Note: Here are  the questions used for the survey of teens, along with its methodology ; and here are the questions used for the survey of adults, and its methodology .

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Colleen McClain is a research associate focusing on internet and technology research at Pew Research Center .

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Most americans say a free press is highly important to society, ­most americans favor restrictions on false information, violent content online, freedom of speech and lgbt rights: americans’ views of issues in supreme court case, most u.s. journalists are concerned about press freedoms, most popular.

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Safer Internet Day: Prioritize and protect child well-being online

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Although millions of boys and girls worldwide have relied on the internet to play, socialize and learn during the COVID-19 pandemic, time online can also expose them to online sexual exploitation, cyberbullying and other risks, the head of the UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) said on Tuesday.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore is among experts expressing growing concern for the well-being of children who were already facing these online risks even before the pandemic. 

When you’re bullied online, it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere and there is no escape, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This #SaferInternetDay, check out our advice on how to protect yourself online and prioritise your mental health. UNICEF UNICEF February 8, 2021

“For children already experiencing harm or hurt – online or offline – the rise in screen time may have exacerbated their anguish”, she said in a statement marking Safer Internet Day. 

“School closures, physical distancing, decreased services, and increased strain on already vulnerable families disrupted and reduced some of the protective measures available to them.” 

Sexual predators lurking online 

Due to the pandemic, children have seen their worlds shrink to just their homes and the screens of their computers, laptops, mobile phones or other devices. 

However, the internet “wasn’t built with children’s safety in mind”, according to a UN-backed initiative working to eliminate online child sexual exploitation and abuse.  

“At any one time, 750,000 individuals are estimated to be looking to connect with children online for sexual purposes, a challenge so large – and so complex – that no one entity can solve it alone”, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children said in supporting Safer Internet Day. 

Meanwhile, UNICEF cited evidence which suggests more time online is leading to less outdoor activity for children, and also reduced sleep quality, increased symptoms of anxiety, and unhealthy eating habits.  

A safer world for children 

The UN agency believes Safer Internet Day can be an opportunity to reimagine a safer world for children online through prioritizing and protecting their physical and mental well-being. 

“For children and young people themselves, preparing for a kinder, more connected world post-COVID means helping strike a balance between their online and offline worlds, nurturing safe, positive relationships with those around them, and having access to the support they need”, Ms. Fore said. 

UNICEF has recommended three areas for action, starting with encouraging governments to train health, education and social service workers about the impact of COVID-19 on child well-being, and to ensure core services for child protection and mental health remain open during the pandemic and beyond. 

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Parents should also receive support to help their children understand the risks of going online and using digital technologies. They also need to be alert to any related signs of distress. 

Schools also have a role through granting children access to school-based counselling services, including virtually, and policies that respond to mental health and child protection concerns. 

“For children and young people themselves, preparing for a kinder, more connected world post-COVID means helping strike a balance between their online and offline worlds, nurturing safe, positive relationships with those around them, and having access to the support they need," said Ms. Fore.

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Internet Safety Is the New Internet Freedom

And it comes with a cost..

On Jan. 25, 2011, protests erupted across Egypt against the regime of Hosni Mubarak. As an estimated 2 million people protested at Tahrir Square in Cairo, the government tried to control the narrative by first blocking Twitter and then Facebook. Within a couple of days, Egypt’s telecom services would go dark. According to reports at the time, “the shutdown caused a 90 percent drop in data traffic to and from Egypt, crippling an important communications tool used by antigovernment protesters and their supporters to organize and to spread their message.”

Egypt’s digital shutdown sent shock waves across the world , leading people to one conclusion: Internet freedom was under threat. In a speech, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that internet freedom “is about whether we live on a planet with one internet, one global community, and a common body of knowledge that benefits and unites us all, or a fragmented planet in which access to information and opportunity is dependent on where we live and the whims of censors.”

A decade later, the picture is quite different—because the world and the internet have both changed dramatically. In 2011, it was Facebook that was celebrated for accelerating Egypt’s awakening ; in 2021, Facebook is vilified for seeming to do little to moderate posts in the world’s most violent countries, or for its struggles to contain insurrectionists’ posts . Today’s internet has become one that calls for safety rather than freedom, and governments are ready to step in, as evidenced by privacy-invading legislation in Canada, Australia, the U.K., and beyond.

Since the Enlightenment, public safety has been seen as the first duty of government. For the government’s guarantee of safety and security, Enlightenment thinkers observed, individuals would abandon the free state of nature. Hobbes wrote about this: “The end for which one man giveth up, and relinquisheth to another, or others, the right of protecting and defending himself by his own power, is the security which he expecteth thereby, of protection and defense from those to whom he doth so relinquish it.” For Enlightenment philosophers, security was central to the concessions people would make for the state.

Fighting misinformation (especially during a pandemic) and extremist content, seeking to expose child abusers who use internet services—all of these issues easily fall under the notion of “public safety,” and they provide the state with justification for intervention. If sovereignty is conditional upon the sovereign’s ability to ensure the safety and security of the people, then the state should have every right to act on any of these issues.

However, in practice, internet safety is opposed to the most fundamental benefits of the internet: empowering citizens, global interconnectedness, and opening new avenues for innovation. Whereas we once sought a more global and open internet, internet safety represents a movement that is inward-looking, fragmented—and often dangerously misguided.

The Online Safety Bill in the United Kingdom is a prime example. Promising to make “ the UK the safest place in the world to be online ,” the broad and unfocused bill contains threats to freedom of expression, privacy, security, and the internet. The bill’s main goal, to fight illegal and harmful content, would be accomplished by imposing a “duty of care” on internet service providers. The duty of care would also extend to users, who could face up to two years in prison for sending messages or posting content that causes “psychological harm” to others . If the bill passes, the U.K. government, in collaboration with the Office of Communication, the bill’s uberregulator, will need to introduce “ codes of practice to specify different levels of the duty of care and liability .” (At the moment, the scope and reach of the duty of care remain unclear.) Furthermore, the bill would ban end-to-end encrypted communication services in the name of safety. Service providers would be criminally liable for the acts of their users if law enforcement agencies do not manage to get access to encrypted communications data. Finally, the Online Safety Bill would justify the criminal prosecution of tech executives who fail to address how their algorithms cause harm. “Remove your harmful algorithms today and you will not be subjected—named individuals—to criminal liability and prosecution,” said U.K. culture secretary Nadine Dorries.

Australia faces a similar situation. Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net 2021 report says that “Internet freedom in Australia [has] regressed” thanks in particular to the passage of its own Online Safety Act. Enacted in June, the legislation introduces a set of “basic online safety expectations” that internet service providers, social media platforms, and other online parties are expected to uphold. These include protecting minors from certain content, responding to user complaints about cyberbullying targeting Australian children and the sharing of nonconsensual content, and removing content that is abusive toward Australians in general.

Finally, in Canada, elections put a temporary pause on a legislative proposal that targets five different categories of harmful content: hate speech, child sexual abuse, terrorism, incitement to violence, and the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images. The main focus is on big platforms (such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Pornhub), which will be required to take reasonable steps to block such content in Canada; once content has been identified as harmful and/or illegal, it will need to be removed within 24 hours. The act also gives law enforcement agencies discretionary powers “ in identifying public safety threats .” On the Mozilla blog, Owen Bannett writes that “in its proposal that platforms take down more content in ever-shorter periods of time, the government’s approach merely responds to symptoms and not structural causes of online harms. Worse still, the government’s proposal includes some suggested policy ideas that would have the opposite effect of making online spaces healthier and more inclusive.” For instance, Bannett says, “The government’s apparent ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to objectionable content … manifests through the proposal that online services must report instances of ‘potentially criminal content’ to national security agencies. This … will incentivize greater and more invasive monitoring of individuals by platforms (e.g. upload filtering; real-name policies) and have a disparate impact on those individuals and communities who already face structural oppression in the criminal justice system.” The legislation is slated to return under the new government, and there is nothing to indicate it will not pass when it gets reintroduced.

In the name of safety, governments are placing conditions that make it increasingly difficult for internet actors to prioritize security. Encryption is a clear example. Encryption tools constitute important security building blocks and are a sign of a healthy network. So, when government interventions in the name of safety compromise encryption’s integrity, they create islands of insecure networks that will find it difficult to interconnect with secure ones, further fragmenting the internet.

Safety and freedom are not irreconcilable, and they should not be treated as such. Benjamin Franklin famously said , “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” It is the responsibility of government to find the balance between safety and freedom. In its current application, however, the focus on safety facilitates the creation of central chokepoints that allow the state to intervene. Given that the global nature of the internet is a feature and not a bug, this intervention leads to fragmentation and conflict.

So why, then, is internet safety such a popular idea?

There is a practical reason, and it concerns the market’s failure to self-regulate and effectively address issues of safety. The very companies that were seen as beacons of internet freedom around the world 10 years ago are currently depicted as the causes of an unsafe internet environment. Data leaks , ransomware attacks , a wave of misinformation and disinformation , and various cybersecurity incidents have made us all feel less safe and, often, less free. For instance, earlier this year news broke that the Israeli surveillance company NSO Group was selling hacking software to authoritarian governments around the world to target human rights activists, journalists, politicians, and lawyers. With no solution coming from the market, governments had no option but to intervene, mainly through regulations that perpetuate the tension between safety and freedom. In fact, the Freedom on the Net 2021 report found that “while some democratic governments have made good faith attempts to regulate the technology industry, state intervention in the digital sphere worldwide has contributed to the 11 th consecutive year of global decline in internet freedom.”

No one wants an internet where illegal or harmful acts occur, where networks are accessed without authorization, where phishing and email frauds are rampant, and where sexual abuse and terrorism proliferate. Equally, we should not want an internet that is less global, is insecure, or where basic human rights are not respected. The problem is not with the term internet safety , per se. It is more about the way the phrase is being abused and, often, used as an excuse for control over global communications.

We must observe the way internet safety is used and call out the instances it is abused. The future of the internet might depend on it.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate , New America , and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.

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• Child and Youth Safety Online

Young people are the driving force of connectivity globally, with 79% of 15 to 24-year-olds online in 2023, compared with 65% for the rest of the world’s population. Children are also spending more time online than ever before. And they’re getting there sooner. Around the world, a child goes online for the first time every half second!

This has created unprecedented opportunities for children and young people to communicate, learn, socialize, and play, exposing them to new ideas and more diverse sources of information.

Risks of the Internet for young people

But with these opportunities come serious risks. Cyberbullying and other forms of peer-to-peer violence can affect young people each time they log in to social media or instant messaging platforms. Over a third of young people in 30 countries report being cyberbullied, with 1 in 5 skipping school because of it.

When browsing the Internet, children and young people may be exposed to hate speech and violent content - including messages that incite self-harm and even suicide. Young internet users are also vulnerable to recruitment by extremist and terrorist groups.

Digital platforms have also been used as vectors for  disinformation and conspiracy theories that have a harmful effect on children and young people.

Most alarming is the threat of online sexual exploitation and abuse . It has never been easier for child sex offenders to contact their potential victims, share imagery and encourage others to commit offences. Some 80% of children in 25 countries report feeling in danger of sexual abuse or exploitation online.

Children can also be put at risk when tech companies breach their privacy to collect data for marketing purposes. Child-targeted marketing through apps - and the excessive screen time it often results in - can compromise a child’s healthy development.

What the UN is doing to protect young people online

The borderless nature of the Internet means keeping young people safe online is a global challenge. The UN is actively working to protect children and youth online through various programmes and initiatives.

Cybersecurity

The Child Online Protection ( COP ) Initiative is a multi-stakeholder network launched by the International Telecommunication Union ( ITU ) to promote awareness of child safety in the online world and to develop practical tools to assist governments, industry and educators.  The ITU Guidelines on Child Online Protection are a comprehensive set of recommendations for all relevant stakeholders on how to contribute to the development of a safe and empowering online environment for children and young people. 

Cyberbullying

The United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) has teamed up with social media platforms to answer some of the most common questions about cyberbullying and give advice on ways to deal with it. UNICEF’s Kindly initiative aims to end cyberbullying — one message at a time.

Every first Thursday of November, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) marks the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School Including Cyberbullying , recognizing that school-related violence in all its forms is an infringement of children and adolescents’ rights to education and health and well-being. The day is an opportunity for stakeholders around the world step up efforts to ensure students’ safety at school and in online spaces.

Sexual exploitation and abuse

UNICEF prevents and responds to the online sexual exploitation of children at the country and global level. It supports coordinated national responses to online child sexual exploitation in over 20 countries - using the WePROTECT Global Alliance model - strengthening the capacity of on-the-ground responders to provide services to victims.

The World Health Organization ( WHO ), in its 2022 report on preventing online violence against children, focuses on child sexual abuse, including grooming and sexual image abuse and cyber aggression and harassment. The report highlights the importance of implementing educational programmes directed at children and parents.

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a global crime that trades in people and exploits them for profit. Human traffickers have become adept at using internet platforms to recruit victims and attract clients. Children and teenagers are susceptible to deceptive ploys in the search for acceptance, attention, or friendship and are often ‘courted’ by traffickers on social media platforms. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC ) supports Member States in their efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking, including through online safety awareness activities aimed at children and young people.

Internet for Trust

UNESCO is spearheading the global effort to develop regulatory solutions to improve the reliability of information on digital platforms in the face of rising disinformation. In February 2023, the UN agency hosted the Internet for Trust conference to discuss a set of global guidelines which aim to create a safe and secure internet environment for users while protecting freedom of expression and access to information. The guidelines urge digital platforms to recognize their specific responsibilities towards children who have a special status given their unique stage of development and limited political voice.

UNESCO is also the lead UN agency promoting media and information literacy ( MIL ), which  empowers people to think critically about information and use of digital tools. UNESCO strives to equip youth with media and information literacy skills empowering them to be leaders and peer educators in the creation and dissemination of MIL knowledge and resources. Since 2016, it has been holding the Youth Agenda Forum to help young people learn about the latest developments in MIL. This is part of the annual Global Media and Information Literacy Week , a major occasion for stakeholders to review and celebrate the progress achieved towards media and information literacy for all.

Children’s rights in the digital age

Children’s rights are enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child . The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child ( CRC ) that monitors implementation of the Convention has laid out the ways that young people and children should be treated in the digital world, and how their rights should be protected.

The Committee consulted with governments, civil society and over 700 children and young people in 27 countries, asking them how digital technology impacts their rights, and what actions they want to see taken to protect them. The findings were laid out in a ' general comment .'

The Committee recommended that States take strong measures, including legislation, to protect children from harmful and misleading content. Children should also be protected from all forms of violence that happens in the digital environment, including child trafficking, gender-based violence, cyber-aggression, cyber-attacks and information warfare.

Children’s perspectives and experiences need to be considered when drafting policies that govern the use of young people’s digital use, as well as when designing the technology itself. UNICEF supports the Global Kids Online and Disrupting Harm projects to gather evidence on children’s digital rights, opportunities, and risks to better understand how use of digital technology contributes to their lives and when it amplifies their risk of harm.

Safer Internet Day

UN agencies and partners, including innovators in the private sector, are forging a digital path towards boosting safety online, especially for children and young people. With support from ITU, UNICEF and UNODC, Safer Internet Day is celebrated in February every year. From cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity, each year Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns.

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Talk to your teens about internet safety.

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Many things have a good and bad side. For teens, using the internet is known to have benefits as well as risks.  Whether engaging in social media, doing research, or playing games, going online can be enjoyable, but it is important for young people to learn how to use it in a wise and safe manner.

Internet safety may be a challenging topic to navigate with your teen, but you can start by helping to develop their critical thinking skills and sharing resources about social media. Ask your teen questions about their social media profiles to make them aware of safety issues. Help teens to critically think with questions like, Who are your followers ? How old are your followers? Do you know them? Are they a good influence?

“We need to prepare our teens to handle the internet,” says Amanda McGeshick, Teen Pregnancy Prevention program manager at Centerstone, “It’s important to start teaching them how to navigate potential challenges on their own. Checking in regularly and being a safe space for them is also important.”

Unfortunately, the internet poses a multitude of different risks that can negatively impact the mental health and safety of teenagers. These include cyberbullying, catfishing, grooming, various forms of violence, and the availability of information they might not be developmentally ready to process.

Talk with your teens early and often to help ensure safety and to encourage a healthy balance in their use of the internet. Here are some ways to build on your communication with your teens:

• Educate them. “Teach your teen about privacy settings and how to block and report bullying or any kind of harassment,” says McGeshick. “It is important to inform your teen that nothing is private on the internet, and once something is sent it becomes out of your control.”
• Set boundaries. As a parent or guardian, take the time and talk about expectations with social media and screen time. Teach your teens to not share private information, avoid talking to strangers, and to not send inappropriate messages or photos.
• Offer safety. Try to be calm, non-judgmental, and approachable if your teen comes to you with an online issue that may be of concern. “As they’re getting older, you’re establishing a good foundation that the door is always open,” says McGeshick.

The internet is a large part of most people’s lives and modern society in general. Be sure to help your teens apply wisdom and stay safe when using it.

If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health struggles with their teens, Centerstone can help. Call 1-877-HOPE123 (1-877-467-3123) or visit the Teen page for more information.

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Internet Safety Tips for Students

Digital communication technologies and remote learning platforms promise a wealth of new educational opportunities. They also increase students’ time spent online and potential exposure to cyber threats.

Having forced more than 1 billion students out of the classroom worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated both the benefits and risks associated with remote learning tools. The importance of teaching students about internet safety has never been greater.

The Importance of Internet Security

Cyber attacks are a growing problem for schools: cybersecurity incidents at US public schools nearly tripled year over year in 2019, according to the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center. The most common issues were educator and student data breaches, followed by ransomware attacks.

The Impact of COVID-19

Students face greater internet risks as they move to online classes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of US public K-12 schools conducted by Education Week found that more than three-quarters of schools started the 2020-21 school year with either remote learning (no in-person instruction) or hybrid instruction (limited in-person reopening).

As a result, the use of remote management and collaboration apps has skyrocketed . These technologies enable essential services, but their proliferation creates new vulnerabilities for bad actors to exploit.

The following resources specifically address cybersecurity issues during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• COVID-19 Security Resource Library . The National Cyber Security Alliance compiled recommendations for avoiding cyberthreats and online scams.
• Preparing for and Responding to COVID-19 . This resource from the US Department of Education addresses cybersafety for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding the Threat

Many students spend a big part of their day doing homework on their computers, chatting with friends on mobile devices, surfing social media platforms, and playing online games—activities that expose them to online threats. Teachers and parents who want to educate students about those dangers should understand how dishonest people exploit the internet, as well as ways that young people are especially vulnerable.

According to American University School of Education professor Vivian Maria Vasquez, “children who critically consume media by understanding how text and images convey particular messages are more likely to be able to make informed decisions regarding what to believe and why.”

Terms to Know

Learning some of the basic concepts of internet security threats can help parents and educators provide informed guidance to students:

• Adware is software that shows computer users unwanted advertisements (typically pop-ups) or redirects them to websites with advertisements.
• Hacking occurs when a person gains unauthorized access to data. Exploiting weaknesses in computers or networks, hackers steal information such as account numbers or social security numbers.
• Identity theft occurs when someone gains access to another person’s personal information and uses it to commit fraud. Malware such as trojans and spyware are often used to steal personal information.
• Malware , or malicious software, refers to any code designed to interfere with a computer’s normal functioning or help hackers commit a cybercrime. Common types of malware include viruses, worms, and trojans, as well as adware, spyware, and ransomware.
• Phishing is a method used by cyber criminals to obtain confidential information using emails or texts, commonly for the purpose of perpetrating identity theft. A phisher tricks targets into providing personal information such as account passwords and social security numbers.
• Ransomware typically infiltrates via email, luring a user to click on an attachment or visit a website that infects their computer with malicious code that locks valuable digital files. Perpetrators then demand a ransom for the release of the information.
• Social engineering (in an information security context) is the psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. Cybercriminals often use manipulative messaging with malware or fake websites to commit online fraud.
• Spyware collects personal information, such as browsing history, for third-party use.
• Trojans are disguised as normal files in order to trick users into downloading them so that a hacker can gain access to a computer.
• Viruses and worms cause damage by installing unwanted programs on computers and networks. Viruses require a host file or program and need intervention from a computer user to spread or replicate. Worms can replicate themselves.

Threats Targeting Young People

Students are subject to the same online security threats that adults face, but their age and inexperience make them particularly vulnerable to certain dangers:

Cyberbullying and hate speech . Online bullying of students is a growing problem , according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Data released by the NCES in 2019 showed that of the 20 percent of middle and high school students who reported being bullied during the 2016-17 school year, 15 percent were bullied online or via texts, up from 11.5 percent during the 2014-15 school year. Three times as many female students reported being bullied online or by text (21 percent) as male students (7 percent). Cyberbullying sometimes takes the form of hate speech, which refers to attacks based on attributes such as race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, sex, or gender identity.

Exposure to inappropriate content . Children can be exposed to a wide variety of age-inappropriate material online, including pornographic content, depictions of violence, and any number of adult topics or conversations.

Online predation . Online predators use the internet to commit child sexual abuse. They can make contact via messaging apps, social and video game networks, and other online forums.

Sexting . Sexting is when a person shares or receives sexually explicit messages or images via mobile devices. Such communications can occur between two students or be initiated by adult predators. Students who engage in sexting can become victims of blackmail attempts aimed at gaining money, acquiring additional sexual content, or initiating physical contact.

Parents, teachers, and guardians can use the following resources to increase their awareness of cyberthreats and teach internet safety for students:

• Child Identity Theft . The Federal Trade Commission offers information about preventing child identity theft.
• Internet Safety . KidsHealth created this guide to raise parents’ awareness about internet safety for children.
• Keeping Children Safe Online . The US Department of Justice offers tips for protecting children from online exploitation.
• Talk to Your Kids . The Federal Trade Commission offers this guide for parents on talking to kids about online safety.
• Teaching Kids About Internet Safety . This tutorial from the Goodwill Community Foundation helps parents and guardians learn how to keep children safe online.
• The Parent’s Guide to Cyberbullying . ConnectSafely offers a guide for protecting children from cyberbullying.

Tips for Teaching Students About Internet Safety

Adults can help students learn about internet safety at every stage of their education. “Because we live in a media-saturated world, it is important to create spaces for children to talk about the texts and images that surround them,” says American University professor Vivian Maria Vasquez. “The place to start is with a child’s questions, passions, and interests. In other words, work with media texts they are already interested in exploring and discussing.”

The following tips explore three major internet safety issues—online threats, privacy, and social interactions—to illustrate how teachers and parents can teach internet safety for students of different age groups.

Elementary School

Students at the elementary level can learn basic internet safety concepts that form a foundation for future instruction:

• Recognizing danger . Internet safety can form the basis of lessons aimed at teaching students to think critically about potential threats. For example, an exercise might outline a danger associated with online activity and the importance of alerting a trusted adult.
• Privacy . Teachers can explore the concept of privacy and its importance. A lesson might establish a definition of personal information—name, address, phone number, and location—and stress the importance of concealing it from everyone but immediate family members.
• Personal interactions . Teachers can use internet safety to teach children about how to interact with strangers. A lesson might establish what constitutes a stranger on the internet and discuss potential dangers associated with interactions with strangers online.

Middle School

Building on basic safety concepts, educators can introduce middle schoolers to specific internet safety issues:

Identifying threats . Teachers can highlight such topics as verifying someone’s identity online, determining network security, identifying dangerous links, and recognizing online scams and phishing tactics.

Online privacy practices . By exploring issues such as password protection and social media privacy settings, teachers prepare students to use online services safely.

Managing online interactions . Instructors can help students have safe interactions with people they meet via online gaming and social media platforms by exploring issues such as what information is appropriate to share online and how much students really know about people they meet online.

High School

Parents and teachers can instruct high school students about sophisticated online safety issues that they will need to consider as adults:

Evaluating risks associated with new technologies . Examining potential dangers that might be associated with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can help students think critically about the role that technology plays in their lives.

Exploring the role of big data . Students can learn about the ways corporations and governments collect and use data and discuss the right to privacy.

Fostering healthy online relationships . Parents and teachers can help young adults understand what constitutes a healthy friendship or romantic relationship and apply those standards to the personal interactions they have online.

These resources provide educators with guidance on how to teach students about internet safety and ensure safe learning environments:

• 23 Great Lesson Plans for Internet Safety . Common Sense Media provides internet safety lessons tailored to each K-12 grade level.
• FBI Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge . This FBI program promotes cyber citizenship with curricula designed for students in grades three through eight.
• OnGuardOnline . The Federal Trade Commission provides online security tips and resources covering computer security, use of public Wi-Fi networks, and online scams.
• Parent’s and Educator’s Guide to Combating Online Hate Speech . This guide from ConnectSafely includes tips for parents and educators about teaching children about online hate speech.
• Teen Cybersafety Guide . WiredSafety offers a guide to online safety and privacy practices specifically for teens.
• Teen Internet Safety Tips . This WebMD guide is designed to help teenagers interact safely online.

Creating Safer Learning Environments

Teaching young people about online threats and incorporating internet security curriculum has never been more important. Mass migration to online classes has heightened awareness and concern about remote learning safety, but internet threats were growing before the COVID-19 pandemic. By teaching students fundamental internet safety practices, parents and educators prepare young people to be successful adults in an increasingly digital world.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Malware Tip Card

Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center, Cyber Safety for Schools Fact Sheet

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• Speech on Internet for Students and Children

Speech on Internet

Very good morning to all. Today, I am here to present a speech on internet. Someone has rightly said that the world is a small place. With the advent of the internet, this saying seems realistic. The internet has really bought the world together and the distance between two persons is really not a distance today. We all know about the technological advancements happening in the world. One of the major attributes of technological advancement is the internet. Today the internet is available easily to many individuals. Also, it is rapidly changing the way we work, travel, educate and entertain.

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Evolution of Internet

Many of you are aware of what the internet facility is. Still, I would like to highlight the aspects of the internet. The internet is a facility wherein two gadget screens are connected through signals. Thus, through this medium, the information can be exchanged between two gadgets.

The history of the internet dates back to 40 years ago with its first use in the United States of America and the inventor of the internet was Robert E.Kahn and Vint Cerf. Earlier the internet was only used to send emails between two computers. Today it has reached all distant parts of the globe with more than 1.5 million users. They use the internet for exchange of information, entertainment, money exchanges, etc.

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Pros of the Internet

The internet facility has many advantages and it has proved to be a milestone in the technical advancement of humankind. It allows users to exchange and communicate information. Two users who are sitting in distant corners of the world can easily communicate through mails, chats, and video conferencing by using the internet.

It provides information of all kinds to its users. Also, it provides entertainment by offering services of watching movies, listening to music, playing a game. Various day to day activities such as travel ticket bookings, banking facilities, shopping, etc. can be easily done through the internet.

Nowadays the internet also offers various dating websites and matrimonial websites by which one can find their prospective soul mate.

The Internet also offers a facility to its users where they can earn online by means of blogs and video blogs. These are some of the major benefits of the internet has a dark side also.

Cons of the Internet

Many a number of people misuse information for fraud and illegal works. Due to excessive use of the internet in the wrong hands, a number of cybercrimes are happening which is affecting the trust of the people on the internet.

Abuse over social media is also prevailing through the internet wherein people of negative mentality abuse other people on the basis of caste, race, color, appearance, etc. Addiction to online games is one of the major problems of parents today as children get addicted to online games and avoid their studies and outdoor activities.

The internet has nowadays become such an important part of the life of the people that it is hardly possible to spend even a day without using the internet. Thus after seeing the negatives of the internet, it is not practically possible to completely avoid the internet. However, we can put a timeline or restriction on its usage especially to children.

The parents and teachers can monitor the online activities of their children and guide them on the proper use of the internet. We should also educate and aware people of online cybercrime and fraud. Thus through proper precautions and adopting safety measures the internet can prove to be a boon for the development of human society.

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Strategies for Teaching Kids About Online Safety

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In today’s digitally interconnected world, children are accessing the internet at an unprecedented rate, often engaging with technology from a very young age. While the internet provides immense opportunities for learning, socializing, and entertainment, it also introduces a myriad of risks that can compromise children’s safety and well-being. As guardians of the next generation, parents and caregivers bear the crucial responsibility of guiding their children’s online behavior, ensuring they can navigate the digital landscape safely and responsibly.

The importance of online safety education cannot be overstated. Children who are unaware of the potential dangers online are more susceptible to cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, privacy violations, and other digital threats. Therefore, equipping children with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves online is an essential component of modern parenting.

This article, aimed at parents and caregivers, outlines comprehensive strategies for teaching kids about online safety. From understanding the significance of internet rules and recognizing the signs of cyberbullying to utilizing parental control tools and leveraging educational resources, this guide provides actionable insights to foster a secure and positive online experience for children. By implementing these strategies, parents can help their children develop healthy digital habits, safeguarding their well-being in an increasingly digital world.

Understanding the Importance of Online Safety

The rise of internet usage among children.

In today’s digital age, the internet has become an integral part of children’s lives. Recent studies reveal a significant increase in internet usage among young people. According to the Pew Research Center , 95% of teens report having access to a smartphone, and nearly 45% say they are online almost constantly. This surge in connectivity has profound implications for both their social interactions and educational opportunities.

The accessibility of the internet provides numerous benefits, such as access to educational resources, social networking, and entertainment. However, it also brings a host of potential risks. Increased screen time and online activity expose children to various dangers, including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and privacy breaches.

Potential Risks Associated with Increased Online Activity

• Cyberbullying: With the rise of social media platforms, cyberbullying has become a prevalent issue. Pew Research Center’s data indicates that 59% of U.S. teens have experienced some form of online harassment. This can lead to severe emotional distress, impacting their mental health and well-being.
• Exposure to Inappropriate Content: The vast expanse of the internet includes content that may not be suitable for children. Despite parental controls, children can sometimes access violent, sexual, or otherwise harmful material. This exposure can negatively affect their development and behavior.
• Privacy and Security Risks: Children often lack the understanding of privacy and the importance of protecting personal information. This can lead to sharing sensitive details online, making them vulnerable to identity theft, online predators, and scams. The Pew Research Center highlights that many teens are unaware of the privacy settings on their social media accounts, increasing their risk of exposure.
• Mental Health Concerns: Excessive screen time and online interactions can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The constant comparison with peers on social media platforms can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Given these statistics and potential risks, it is crucial for parents to actively engage in their children’s online activities. By understanding these dangers and implementing strategies for online safety, parents can help their children navigate the digital world securely.

Why Online Safety Education Matters

Consequences of Inadequate Online Safety Education

The digital landscape offers a plethora of opportunities for learning, socializing, and entertainment, but it also harbors significant risks, especially for children. Without proper online safety education, children are vulnerable to a range of negative consequences that can impact their well-being and development. According to GCF Global, inadequate online safety education can lead to several adverse outcomes:

• Exposure to Inappropriate Content: Children may inadvertently encounter content that is violent, sexual, or otherwise unsuitable for their age. This exposure can be harmful, leading to emotional distress and inappropriate behavior mimicking what they see online.
• Cyberbullying: A lack of awareness about online etiquette and the anonymity the internet provides can result in children becoming victims or perpetrators of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can have severe emotional and psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
• Privacy Violations: Children who are not educated about online privacy may share personal information freely, making them easy targets for identity theft, online predators, and scams. GCF Global highlights that children often do not realize the permanence and reach of the information they post online.
• Addiction and Overuse: Without guidelines and education on healthy internet use, children can develop addictive behaviors towards screen time, impacting their physical health, sleep patterns, and academic performance. This can also lead to social isolation as they spend more time online and less time interacting face-to-face.
• Misinformation: Children lacking critical thinking skills regarding online content may fall prey to misinformation and fake news, which can skew their perception of reality and lead to poor decision-making.

The Role of Parents in Guiding Online Behavior

Parents play a crucial role in guiding their children’s online behavior and ensuring they navigate the internet safely. GCF Global emphasizes that parents are the first line of defense in protecting children from online dangers. Here’s how parents can effectively fulfill this role:

• Modeling Good Behavior: Children often imitate their parents’ behavior. By demonstrating safe and responsible internet use, parents can set a positive example for their children to follow.
• Setting Boundaries and Rules: Establishing clear guidelines for internet use, such as screen time limits and approved websites, helps children understand the boundaries of safe online behavior. Consistency in enforcing these rules is key to their effectiveness.
• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue about online experiences allows children to feel comfortable sharing their concerns and asking questions. Parents should listen actively and provide guidance and support without judgment.
• Educating About Risks and Safe Practices: Parents should proactively educate their children about the risks of the internet and safe online practices. This includes teaching them about privacy settings, the dangers of sharing personal information, and how to recognize and avoid potential threats.
• Using Parental Controls: Implementing parental control software and settings on devices can help monitor and restrict children’s internet activity, adding an extra layer of protection.
• Staying Informed: The digital world is constantly evolving, and so are the risks. Parents should stay informed about the latest online trends, apps, and potential dangers to provide relevant and up-to-date guidance to their children.

By actively engaging in their children’s online lives and providing continuous education and support, parents can significantly reduce the risks associated with internet use and help their children develop healthy, safe, and responsible online habits.

Strategies for Ensuring Online Safety

Setting clear rules and expectations.

Importance of Establishing Household Internet Rules

In the digital age, setting clear household internet rules is essential for ensuring children’s online safety. Establishing these guidelines helps create a structured and secure online environment, reducing the risks associated with internet use. According to Common Sense Media, educating children about safe online behavior and establishing firm rules is one of the most effective strategies for protecting them from online dangers.

Household internet rules provide a framework that helps children understand what is expected of them when they are online. These rules can cover various aspects of internet use, from the amount of screen time allowed to the types of websites they can visit. By having clear and consistent rules, parents can foster responsible internet use and help children develop good digital habits.

Examples of Effective Household Internet Rules

• Screen Time Limits: Setting daily or weekly screen time limits is crucial for balancing online activities with other aspects of life, such as homework, physical activity, and family time. Common Sense Media suggests that parents tailor screen time rules based on the child’s age and individual needs. For instance, a rule might be that children can spend no more than two hours per day on recreational screen time.
• Approved Websites and Apps: Creating a list of approved websites and apps helps ensure that children only access safe and appropriate content. Parents can use parental control tools to block or filter content that is not suitable for their child’s age group. Common Sense Media recommends regularly reviewing and updating this list as new apps and websites emerge.
• No Personal Information Sharing: A critical rule for online safety is to never share personal information, such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, or school names, with strangers or on public forums. Educating children about the importance of privacy and the potential risks of sharing personal information online is key to protecting them from identity theft and online predators.
• Regular Check-ins: Encouraging children to communicate openly about their online experiences is vital. Parents should regularly check in with their children to discuss what they are doing online, who they are interacting with, and any concerns they may have. This open line of communication helps parents stay informed and address any issues promptly.
• Device-Free Zones and Times: Establishing device-free zones, such as bedrooms and dining areas, and device-free times, like during meals or before bedtime, can help limit distractions and promote healthier habits. Common Sense Media advises creating a family media plan that outlines when and where devices can be used.

By setting clear and consistent internet rules, parents can help their children navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. These guidelines not only protect children from online threats but also promote a balanced and healthy approach to technology use.

Educating Children About Privacy

Teaching Kids About Personal Information and Its Value

Understanding the importance of personal information and its value is a crucial aspect of online safety education for children. Children need to be aware that the information they share online can have long-lasting implications. According to Stay Safe Online , personal information includes details such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, school names, and even photos. Teaching children to recognize what constitutes personal information is the first step in helping them protect their privacy.

Parents should emphasize the permanence of online sharing. Once information is posted, it can be difficult or impossible to remove, and it may be accessed by unintended audiences. Educating children about the potential misuse of personal information can help them understand why it is important to keep certain details private. For instance, explain that sharing personal information can lead to identity theft, online scams, and unwanted contact from strangers.

Guidelines for Safe Sharing and Protecting Privacy

To protect their privacy online, children should follow several key guidelines:

• Use Strong Passwords: Encourage children to create strong, unique passwords for their online accounts. Passwords should be a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and should not include easily guessable information like birthdays or pet names.
• Enable Privacy Settings: Teach children how to use privacy settings on social media and other online platforms. These settings can help control who sees their information and posts. Ensure they understand the importance of regularly reviewing and updating these settings.
• Think Before Sharing: Encourage children to think carefully before sharing any personal information online. They should ask themselves if the information is necessary to share and consider the potential consequences.
• Limit Public Profiles: Advise children to keep their social media profiles private and limit the amount of personal information displayed publicly. They should be selective about who they accept as friends or followers.
• Avoid Sharing Location: Remind children not to share their location online, whether through social media check-ins, geotagged photos, or location-sharing apps. This can help prevent unwanted attention and potential danger.

By instilling these habits, parents can help their children navigate the digital world more safely and responsibly.

Recognizing and Responding to Cyberbullying

Identifying Signs of Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can have serious emotional and psychological impacts on children, making it essential for parents to recognize the signs early. According to StopBullying.gov , signs that a child may be experiencing cyberbullying include:

• Emotional Distress: Sudden changes in mood, such as increased sadness, anxiety, or anger, especially after using the internet or social media.
• Withdrawal from Social Activities: Reluctance to participate in social or school activities that they previously enjoyed.
• Avoiding School: Frequent excuses to avoid going to school, which may be linked to bullying incidents involving schoolmates.
• Decline in Academic Performance: A noticeable drop in grades or loss of interest in academic work.
• Changes in Sleep or Eating Habits: Difficulties with sleeping or eating, or engaging in self-destructive behaviors.

Steps to Take if Your Child is Being Cyberbullied

If a parent suspects their child is being cyberbullied, it is important to take immediate and supportive action. The following steps can help address and mitigate the effects of cyberbullying:

• Open a Dialogue: Talk to your child about their online experiences in a calm and supportive manner. Encourage them to share what has been happening and listen without judgment.
• Collect Evidence: Save screenshots, emails, and text messages that contain bullying content. This documentation can be crucial if the bullying needs to be reported to authorities or school officials.
• Block and Report: Use the tools provided by social media platforms to block the bully and report abusive content. Many platforms have policies and procedures in place to handle cyberbullying.
• Involve School Authorities: Inform the school about cyberbullying, especially if it involves classmates. Schools often have protocols for dealing with bullying, both online and offline.
• Seek Professional Help: If the bullying has significantly impacted your child’s mental health, consider seeking help from a counselor or therapist who can provide support and coping strategies.
• Encourage Positive Online Behavior: Reinforce the importance of positive online interactions and teach your child to stand up against bullying, whether they are a victim or a bystander.

By taking these steps, parents can help their children cope with and overcome the challenges posed by cyberbullying.

Tools and Resources for Parents

Parental control software and tools.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, parental control software has become an essential tool for parents seeking to ensure their children’s online safety. These tools help monitor and manage children’s internet usage, providing a safer online environment. According to PCMag , several popular parental control tools stand out for their effectiveness and user-friendly features:

• Qustodio: This comprehensive tool offers robust features such as web filtering, time limits, and monitoring of social media activities. It also provides detailed reports on your child’s online activity, helping parents stay informed.
• Norton Family: Known for its extensive range of features, Norton Family allows parents to block specific websites, monitor online searches, and set time limits. It also offers an easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for parents who may not be tech-savvy.
• Net Nanny: Praised for its powerful content filtering capabilities, Net Nanny can block inappropriate content in real-time. It also allows parents to set screen time schedules and monitor social media use, providing a well-rounded approach to online safety.
• Kaspersky Safe Kids: This tool offers a free version with basic features and a premium version with advanced functionalities. It includes GPS tracking, screen time management, and content filtering, helping parents keep their children safe both online and offline.

How to Choose and Set Up Effective Parental Controls

Selecting the right parental control software depends on your specific needs and the age of your children. Here are some tips for choosing and setting up effective parental controls:

• Identify Your Needs: Consider what features are most important for your family. For younger children, content filtering and screen time limits may be crucial. For older kids, social media monitoring and activity reports might be more relevant.
• Ease of Use: Choose software that offers a user-friendly interface. Parents should be able to easily navigate and configure settings without extensive technical knowledge.
• Compatibility: Ensure the software is compatible with all devices your children use, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. Multi-platform support allows for consistent monitoring across all devices.
• Customization: Look for tools that offer customizable settings. Each child may have different needs, so the ability to tailor controls based on age and maturity is beneficial.
• Set Clear Rules and Discuss Them: Once the software is installed, explain to your children why these controls are in place and how they work. Setting clear rules and expectations helps children understand the importance of online safety.

By carefully selecting and setting up parental control tools, parents can create a safer online environment for their children, reducing the risks associated with internet use.

Educational Resources and Support Networks

List of educational websites and resources for kids.

Providing children with access to educational websites can enhance their learning experiences and promote safe online activities. Internet Matters highlights several trusted educational resources that are both engaging and informative:

• Khan Academy : This free online resource offers a wide range of subjects, from math and science to history and art. It features interactive exercises and instructional videos, making learning accessible and enjoyable.
• BBC Bitesize : Tailored for students in the UK, BBC Bitesize provides comprehensive educational content for various age groups. It covers a multitude of subjects and includes games, quizzes, and videos to enhance learning.
• National Geographic Kids : This website offers fun and educational content about animals, nature, and geography. It includes interactive games, videos, and articles designed to spark children’s curiosity and interest in the world around them.
• Code.org : Focusing on computer science, Code.org offers coding tutorials and activities for kids of all ages. It aims to make learning coding fun and accessible, fostering valuable skills for the digital age.

Online Communities and Support Networks for Parents

In addition to educational resources for children, parents can benefit from online communities and support networks that provide guidance and share experiences. Internet Matters recommends several platforms where parents can find support:

• Internet Matters: This platform offers a wealth of information on online safety, including guides, resources, and expert advice. It also provides a forum where parents can ask questions and share experiences.
• Common Sense Media: Common Sense Media offers reviews and recommendations on media and technology, helping parents make informed decisions about what their children watch, play, and read. It also features articles and tips on managing digital devices and online behavior.
• Parent Zone: Parent Zone provides resources and support for parents on a range of topics, including digital resilience and online safety. It offers advice articles, webinars, and workshops to help parents navigate the challenges of raising digital citizens.
• Net Aware: Run by the NSPCC and O2, Net Aware offers detailed information on popular social networks, apps, and games. It helps parents understand the potential risks and benefits of different platforms, ensuring they can guide their children’s online activities effectively.

By utilizing these educational resources and support networks, parents can better support their children’s learning and online safety, creating a positive and secure digital environment.

In an era where digital interactions are an integral part of children’s lives, ensuring their online safety is more important than ever. By implementing clear rules, educating children about privacy, and utilizing parental control tools, parents can create a secure online environment that promotes responsible behavior. Empowering children with the knowledge and skills to navigate the internet safely not only protects them from potential risks but also fosters their growth as informed and responsible digital citizens.

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Top 15 internet safety rules and what not to do online

So much of our daily life revolves around the internet, from work to education and even talking with friends. A  2021 survey  found that the average US household had around 25 internet-connected devices, up from 11 in 2019. The more online accounts and devices you have, the greater the scope for cybercriminals to cause you harm. That’s why it's now ever more essential to understand internet safety rules which protect you and your family from threats that may harm your data and devices. Read on to find out about key internet dangers and the ways to stay safe online.

The Key Dangers of the Internet

When you and your family use the internet, you are (often unknowingly) exposing yourself to a wide range of potential online threats. Digital landscapes as we know them are constantly evolving as cybercriminals devise new ways to target internet users. Here is a list of just some of the biggest internet dangers you and your family need to watch out for:

• Identity theft.
• Data breaches.
• Malware and viruses.
• Phishing and scam emails.
• Fake websites.
• Online scams.
• Romance scams.
• Inappropriate content.
• Cyberbullying.
• Faulty privacy settings.

Essential Internet Safety Tips

To avoid all of these dangers, we recommend following our essential internet safety tips when you or your family are online:

1. Make sure you’re using a secure internet connection

Although using public Wi-Fi is not recommended, it’s sometimes unavoidable when you are out and about. However, when you go online in a public place and use a  public Wi-Fi  connection, you have no direct control over its security, which could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks. So, if you are using public Wi-Fi, avoid carrying out personal transactions that use sensitive data, such as online banking or online shopping.

If you need to do any one of these, use a  Virtual Private Network or VPN . A VPN will protect any of the data you send over an unsecured network via real-time encryption. If you don't use a VPN, we recommend saving any personal transactions until you can use a trusted internet connection. You can find out more about what a VPN is here .

2. Choose strong passwords

Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots when it comes to cybersecurity. People often choose passwords that are easy to remember and, therefore, easy for hackers to crack with hacking software. In addition to this, using the same password for multiple sites puts your data at further risk. If hackers obtain your credentials from one site, they can potentially access other websites which use the same login details.

Select  strong passwords  that are harder for cybercriminals to crack. A strong password is:

• Long – made up of at least 12 characters (ideally more).
• A mix of characters – upper-case and lower-case letters plus symbols and numbers.
• Avoids the obvious – such as using sequential numbers (“1234”) or personal information that someone who knows you might guess (or that might already be online), such as your date of birth or a pet’s name.
• Avoids memorable keyboard paths.

Using a  password manager  can help. Password managers help users create strong passwords, store them in a digital vault (which is protected by a single master password) and retrieve them when logging into accounts online.

3. Enable multi-factor authentication where you can

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that asks users to provide two or more verification methods to access an online account. For example, instead of simply asking for a username or password, multifactor authentication goes further by requesting additional information, such as:

• An extra one-time password that the website's authentication servers send to the user's phone or email address.
• Answers to personal security questions.
• A fingerprint or other biometric information, such as voice or face recognition.

Multifactor authentication decreases the likelihood of a successful cyberattack. To make your online accounts more secure, it’s a good idea to implement multifactor authentication where possible. You can also consider using a third-party authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator or Authy, to help with your internet security.

4. Keep software and operating systems updated

Developers are constantly working to make products safe, monitoring the latest threats and rolling out security patches in case of vulnerabilities in their software. By using the latest versions of your operating systems and apps, you will benefit from the latest security patches. This is especially important for apps that contain payment, health or other sensitive information about a user.

5. Check that websites look and feel reliable

For any website you visit, especially ones you transact with (such as e-commerce sites), it's crucial that they are reliable. A key element to look out for is an SSL/security certificate . This means, lookout for URLs that start with “HTTPS” rather than “HTTP” (the “S” stands for “secure”) and have a padlock icon in the address bar. Other trust signals include:

• Text which is free from spelling and grammar mistakes – reputable brands will make an effort to ensure their websites are well-written and proofread.
• Images that are not pixelated and fit the screen's width correctly.
• Ads that feel organic and are not too overpowering.
• No sudden changes in color or theme. In some cases, where users have interacted with a particular website and returned to a familiar page from a link, subtle color or design changes might indicate forgery.
• The accepted standards of online payments – legitimate ecommerce websites use credit or debit card portals or PayPal, only. If a website is using another form of digital money transfer to accept payments, it is probably fraudulent.

6. Review your privacy settings and understand privacy policies

Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing and social media usage. But you can take charge of how much information third-parties can access. Both web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings to protect your privacy online. Social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, amongst others, have privacy-enhancing settings that you can activate. It’s worth taking a while to review your privacy settings across the board and make sure they are set to a level you are comfortable with.

Many of us accept privacy policies without reading them, but with so much data used for marketing and advertising (and hacking) purposes, it's a good idea to review the privacy policies of websites and apps you use, in order to understand how your data is collected and analyzed. However, bear in mind that even if your settings are set to private, very little data online is totally private. Hackers, website administrators and law enforcement could still have access to the information you regard as private.

7. Be careful of suspicious links and where you click

A careless click can expose your personal data online or infect your device with  malware . That’s why it's essential to browse consciously and avoid certain types of online content – such as links from untrusted sources and spam emails, online quizzes, clickbait, ‘free’ offers or unsolicited ads.

If you receive an email that you're not sure about, avoid clicking on any links in it or opening any attachments.

In fact, it's best to avoid opening untrusted emails at all. If you’re not sure whether an email is legitimate or not, go directly to the source. For example, if you receive a suspicious email from your “bank”, call your bank and ask them if the email is genuine.

When you’re on a website, make sure links click through to relevant or expected topics. For example, if you click on a link that you think is about safaris in Africa, but instead you're taken to a clickbait-style page about celebrity weight loss or a “where are they now?” style piece, then quickly close the page.

8. Make sure your devices are secure

With up to 60% of people using mobile devices for shopping and finding information online, instead of a desktop, it’s important that they are secured correctly. With all your devices – phones, computers, tablets, smartwatches, smart TVs, etc. – it's good practice to use passwords or passcodes and other security options like fingerprint readers or face-scanning technology. These measures will reduce the likelihood of a cyberattack or your personal data being stolen by hackers.

9. Backup data regularly

It's important to backup important personal information on external hard drives and regularly create new backups.  Ransomware  – a type of malware – involves cybercriminals locking your computer so you can’t access valuable files. Backing up your data – and your family’s data – helps mitigate the impact of a ransomware attack. You can protect yourself further with appropriate security software. Other forms of malware deny you access to your personal data by overwhelming your system or simply deleting files, so be careful.

10. Close unused accounts

Over the years, many of us accumulate old accounts that we no longer use. These can be a weak link in terms of safety when using the internet – not only are old accounts more likely to have weaker passwords, but some of those sites may have poor data protection policies. In addition, cybercriminals could piece together the information you have left in them, for example, old social media profiles – such as your date of birth or location, etc. – to build up a picture of your identity in an attempt to hack you later. As a result, we recommend closing your old online accounts and requesting that your data be deleted from the relevant third-party servers.

11. Be careful what you download

A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware, which can be used to open a “backdoor” to your machine. Malware might be disguised as an app – anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather. Or, it could be hidden on a malicious website that attempts to install malware on your device.

Malware causes damage – such as disrupting how your device operates, stealing your personal data or allowing unauthorized access to your machine. This usually requires some action on your part, but there are also  drive-by downloads , where a website attempts to install software on your computer without asking for permission first. Think carefully before visiting a new website or downloading anything onto your device, and only download content from trusted or official sources. Regularly check your download folders and if unknown files appear on your system (potentially, from a drive-by), delete them immediately.

12. Be careful what you post and where

The internet does not have a delete key. Any comment or image you post online may stay online forever because removing the original won’t remove any copies that other people may have made. There is no way for you to ‘take back’ a comment you wish you hadn't made or remove an embarrassing image you posted. So, don't put anything online that you would not want a parent or prospective employer to see.

Similarly, be careful about disclosing personal information about yourself online. For example, avoid disclosing your social security number, address or date of birth in social media bios. You wouldn't hand personal information out to strangers individually, so don't hand it out to millions of people online.

Be careful about where you display or submit your email address. It's good to have a secondary, throwaway email account that you use solely for email sign-ups and subscriptions, separate from the one you use for friends and family, and separate from the one you use for work.

13. Be careful who you meet online

People you meet online are not always who they claim to be. Indeed, they may not even be real. Fake social media profiles are a popular way for hackers to groom unwary internet users and pick their cyber pockets. Apply the same caution in your online social life as you would for your in-person social life. This is particularly true with  the rise of online dating scams in recent years .

14. Double check online information

Sadly, fake news, misinformation and disinformation are all present on the internet. It's easy to feel lost with the flood of information we're exposed to every day. If you read something you are unsure of, do your own research to establish the facts. Reliable websites will have references to the original information and source materials. Suspicious pages won’t offer any references at all. Read  our guide to spotting fake news here .

15. Use a good antivirus and keep it updated

As well as following safety tips for online behavior, it's essential to use a good quality antivirus provider . Internet security software guards your devices and data and blocks common threats like viruses and malware (plus complex ones like spy apps, “cryptolockers” and XSS attacks). As with all operating systems and apps, it's essential to keep your antivirus updated to stay ahead of the latest cyberthreats.

3 Online safety rules for the kids

Although many of the tips to stay safe online are the same for adults and children, they are not easy or straightforward to explain. Often, children can accidentally be a gateway for malicious actors to gain access to your digital systems. It is therefore important to teach your kids the essentials of staying safe online in order to protect your home network from any unwanted accidents. Here are 3 areas that you should cover:

Digital Footprint

Your digital footprint, what exists of you online after usage, is an important concept that children need to know about. When teaching children about this, it’s important to focus on how information is readily available and how others could interact with this data (for example, email addresses and usernames that contain identifying information, which could be used for criminal activity). Wider discussions can also come from this, such as sharing content online (through social media, gaming accounts and emails). Make sure to clearly state what content is not allowed on the internet (photos, address, phone numbers and middle names).

Strong passwords are integral to modern cybersecurity measures today. Instructing children from a young age about the importance of strong passwords (ones that consists of at least 12 characters and are a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols) and their appropriate storage is one of the simplest ways to make the internet safer for your family. This is also why it can be very useful to have a password management system that can automatically fill in password credentials for different websites.

Communication

One of the most accessed routes for all manner of cybercriminal, online messaging and communication is a “must-have” conversation for your children’s safety. Primarily, it is important to explain how to identify and avoid messages, suspicious links, downloads or emails from strangers asking for identifying information online. This can also lead to a wider discussion about how to detect phishing scams and fake websites. The second most important part of safe online communication is correct engagement with others. Much like the real world, staying safe can sometimes depend on staying vigilant, engaging in polite communication and learning how to identify and not engage with bullying. Educate your child on what cyberbullying looks like and how to act kindly to others online.

Recommended products:

• Kaspersky Safe Kids
• Kaspersky Home Security
• Kaspersky Password Manager

Further reading:

• Do’s and don’ts for teaching internet safety to kids
• What is a security breach and how to avoid one?
• What is a Digital Footprint?
• Spam & Phishing | Phishing Scam Threats

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Margot James speech on Safer Internet Day

Minister for Digital outlines plans to make the UK the safest place on the world to be online

Thank you for inviting me to this year’s Safer Internet Day event. I’m thrilled to be here at the BT Centre, and I would like to congratulate the UK Safer Internet Centre on coordinating a highly successful campaign which sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. This event is celebrated in over 100 countries and is one of the many Safer Internet Day activities happening all over the UK.

I’m very encouraged to see so many young people here today in this auditorium. It is crucial that we in government, as we make policy, learn from young people about their experiences online. Digital technology and social media enable young people to access educational resources, make social connections, build relationships and demonstrate creativity.

As the use of technology has grown, it has impacted every area of our lives. Planning a journey, checking your bank balance, organising campaigns, sharing photos, listening to music - all daily tasks that so many of us now complete online. And I know that many of the students here today are passionate about how technology benefits their everyday lives. I share that passion.

But we also know that a lot of young people are worried about what they see or experience online.

I’m looking forward to speaking with students from Dundonald Primary School, Kaizen Primary School, Viridis Schools Federation, Dr Challoner’s High School, Mayfield School, Sarah Bonnell School and Brooke School. I’m particularly interested in hearing about their experiences online and seeing what they have prepared for this year’s Safer Internet Day.

I’m aware that many of you are Digital Leaders in your schools and I’d like to thank you for the contribution you make to Safer Internet Day, and extend my congratulations for all the hard work you have carried out at your schools to help ensure that your peers are well informed about how to stay safe online. The exhibitions you have been preparing are focussing on consent online. The theme of this year’s Safer Internet Day.

Consent has been much in the news of late. A New York Times investigation has just found that the information being collected about us through apps on our smartphones is far more extensive than most of us imagine or are aware we have consented to.

Last year the government made sweeping changes to the Data Protection regime and gave citizens new powers over their data. Consent, the theme of Internet Safety Day, must now be freely given, clear, unambiguous and fair. That’s really important.

This legislation is not before time. Last week it was reported that Facebook have been paying users as young as 13 to download a Facebook Research app in contravention of Apple’s strict privacy rules. This app allowed Facebook to look at users browsing history and other network data by requiring users to install a “root certificate” - this certification enabled Facebook to decrypt those users browsing history including messages they sent, what apps they used and for how long, to amass a very rich data set in order to sell ever more targeted advertising.

Apple responded by pulling the offending App and standing up for our privacy rights; they are among many voices in the States calling for similar privacy laws to the GDPR, that we have in Europe, to be enacted in the United States.

Online safety is a top priority for the Government and we want to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. We will soon be publishing an Online Harms White Paper which will set out clear expectations for companies to help keep their users, particularly children, safe online.

Internet companies have always enjoyed legal protection from liability for user generated content. This laissez faire environment has led some companies to pursue growth and profitability with little regard for the security and interests of their users. There is far too much bullying, abuse, misinformation and manipulation online as well as serious and organised crime online.

For too long the response from many of the large platforms has fallen short. There have been no fewer than fifteen voluntary codes of practice agreed with platforms since 2008. Where we are now is an absolute indictment of a system that has relied far too little on the rule of law.

The White Paper, which DCMS are producing with the Home Office, will be followed by a consultation over the summer and will set out new legislative measures to ensure that the platforms remove illegal content and prioritise the protection of users, especially children, young people and vulnerable adults.

It will also include ambitious measures to support continued education and awareness for all users and to promote the development and adoption of new safety technologies. We want to get to a place where we can enjoy the huge benefits of new technology has to offer, without our children, and other vulnerable individuals, being put at risk of serious harm.

So Engagement with industry, charities, peers and academia sits at the heart of our approach. And back in November 2017, with thanks to the UK Safer Internet Centre, we were able to talk and listen directly to many young people, some of whom I believe are back here again today in this room. The conversations we had are helping us to develop world leading laws as well as other measures to make sure that the UK is the safest place in the world to be online.

In developing the White Paper we have continued to engage with a wide range of organisations. And I am grateful to those organisations, including Childnet and the Internet Watch Foundation that are part of the executive board of the UK Council for Internet Safety, which I co-chair with Ministers from the Department for Education and the Home Office. The Council does hugely important work, bringing together expertise from a range of organisations in the tech industry, civil society and public sector to collaborate and coordinate a UK-wide approach to improving internet safety. It’s great to see that a similarly collaborative approach lies at the heart of Safer Internet Day.

Let me repeat my thanks to The UK Safer Internet Centre for inviting me along today. I look forward to hearing more of your ideas about what more needs to done to help keep everyone safe online, and today is a timely reminder of the work ahead.

The government is determined to act so that we can all enjoy the huge benefits of new technology, without our children, and other vulnerable individuals, being put at risk of serious harm.

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• 12 May 2024

Is the Internet bad for you? Huge study reveals surprise effect on well-being

• Carissa Wong

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A global, 16-year study 1 of 2.4 million people has found that Internet use might boost measures of well-being, such as life satisfaction and sense of purpose — challenging the commonly held idea that Internet use has negative effects on people’s welfare.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01410-z

Vuorre, M. & Przybylski, A. K. Technol. Mind Behav . https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000127 (2024).

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Heffer, T. et al. Clin. Psychol. Sci. 7 , 462–470 (2018).

Coyne, S. M., Rogers, A. A., Zurcher, J. D., Stockdale, L. & Booth, M. Comput. Hum. Behav . 104 , 106160 (2020).

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Chiefs' Harrison Butker blasted for commencement speech encouraging women to be homemakers

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has aggravated one of the internet's biggest culture wars by telling a class of college graduates that one of the “most important” titles a woman can hold is homemaker.

During a commencement speech last weekend at Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas, the NFL player railed against abortion, Pride month and Covid-19 lockdown measures.

Drawing the most viral backlash this week, however, was a section of his speech in which he addressed the female graduates specifically — telling them that it’s women who have had “the most diabolical lies” told to them.

“How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world,” Butker said. “But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

The criticisms that followed took aim at Butker as well as the NFL.

"Hey @NFL — If you want to continue to grow your female fan base and any other marginalized group (straight white men are already watching your product), come get your boy," wrote Lisa Guerrero, a former NFL sideline reporter and now an investigative journalist for "Inside Edition."

He went on to tell the graduates that his wife would agree that her life “truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.” It is her embrace of this role, he said, that made his own professional success possible.

Butker’s comments share similarities with some of the more extreme ideas around gender roles that have gained traction in communities that promote “ tradwife ” lifestyles or other relationship dynamics that center on traditional gender roles .

“Listen, there’s nothing wrong with his wife being a homemaker. Homemakers are wonderful, that’s not the point,” filmmaker Michael McWhorter, known by his more than 6 million TikTok followers as TizzyEnt, said in a video response. “The point is he seemed to be acting as if you should be ashamed if you don’t want to be a homemaker, or, ‘I know what you really want to do is just stay home and have babies.’"

The speech was the latest incident to add fuel to the flames of this increasingly vocal cultural battle, much of which is playing out online. While many prominent right-wing men have voiced such beliefs before, they’re usually confined to internet forums, podcasts and other online communities where these ideologies thrive.

A spokesperson for Butker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Benedictine College and the Kansas City Chiefs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for the NFL told People Magazine that Butker "gave a speech in his personal capacity" and his "views are not those of the NFL as an organization."

"The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger," a spokesperson told the publication.

Butker, who is teammates with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, further drew surprise and criticism when he quoted Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, whose monumental career success as a global pop star has inspired college courses .

“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,’” he said, drawing murmurs from the crowd as he used the “Bejeweled” lyric as an analogy for why Catholic priests should not become “overly familiar” with their parishioners.

In the days since his speech, a Change.org petition for the Chiefs to dismiss Butker for “discriminatory remarks” has garnered nearly 19,000 signatures.

“These comments reinforce harmful stereotypes that threaten social progress,” the petition stated. “They create a toxic environment that hinders our collective efforts towards equality, diversity and inclusion in society. It is unacceptable for such a public figure to use their platform to foster harm rather than unity.”

Those who criticized Butker’s speech online include actor Bradley Whitford as well as DJ and rapper (and self-proclaimed Swiftie ) Flavor Flav .

But his speech was also lauded by some on the religious right, including conservative sports media personalities such as Clay Travis and Jason Whitlock , who defended Butker’s statements toward women.

“Not a word Harrison Butker says here should be remotely controversial. He’s 100% correct,” former NFL wide receiver T.J. Moe posted on X . “Those trying to convince women that being assistant VP of lending & intentionally childless at age 40 is more fulfilling than making a family and home are evil.”

Sports and culture commentator Jon Root also posted that Butker “exposed the lies that the world has been telling women.” Women, he wrote, are wrongly encouraged to climb the corporate ladder, view children as a “burden” and see marriage as “not worth pursuing.”

Still, a deluge of viewers online took issue with his attitude toward women and the LGBTQ community. Many women also rejected the premise that they would be happier staying at home in lieu of paid work, even if they do have a husband and children.

“I am moved. I actually had no idea that my life began when I met my husband,” neurosurgeon Betsy Grunch, known as Ladyspinedoc on TikTok, said sarcastically in a TikTok video . “It did not begin when I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with honors. It certainly did not begin when I graduated with a 4.0 GPA, Alpha Omega Alpha, from medical school. And I had no idea that it did not begin when I completed my residency in neurosurgery.”

Angela Yang is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News.

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Swimming and Your Health

• Water-based exercise offers physical and mental health benefits, including improved health for people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
• However, recreational water can also spread illness or cause injury, so it is important to know what to do to protect yourself and others.

Health benefits

Swimming can improve mood and people report enjoying water-based exercise more than exercising on land.

People are able to exercise longer in water without increased joint or muscle pain, which has been shown to be especially helpful for people with arthritis and osteoarthritis. Water-based exercise can help people with arthritis improve the use of their arthritic joints, decrease pain, and not worsen symptoms. People with rheumatoid arthritis have shown more health improvements after participating in hydrotherapy (exercising in warm water) than with other activities.

For people with fibromyalgia, swimming can decrease anxiety, and exercise therapy in warm water can decrease depression and improve mood. Parents of children with developmental disabilities find that recreational activities, such as swimming, improve family connections.

Water-based exercise can benefit older adults by improving their quality of life and decreasing disability. It can also improve or help maintain the bone health of post-menopausal women.

Staying healthy and safe while you swim

To stay healthy and safe while you swim, it is important to understand how to prevent illness and injury when you are in or around the water.

You can get swimming-related illnesses if you swallow, have contact with, or breathe in mists of water contaminated with germs. The most common swimming-related illnesses are diarrhea , skin rashes , swimmer's ear , pneumonia or flu-like illness , and irritation of the eyes or respiratory tract .

Learn more about what you can do to prevent these illnesses when you swim and how to protect yourself depending on where you go (pool, hot tub, splash pad, ocean, etc.)

Preventing Swimming-related Illnesses

Guidelines for Healthy and Safe Swimming

Keeping your pool and hot tub clean

Having pool or hot tub can be a fun way to be active or just relax. It is important to know what to do to reduce the risk of pool-related injury and illness, as well as how to clean your pool if it has been contaminated by poop, vomit, blood, or a dead animal.

Guidelines for Keeping Your Pool Safe and Healthy

Responding to Pool Contamination

• US Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012. Arts, Recreation, and Travel: Participation in Selected Sports Activities 2009. [XLS – 40 KB] ·
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Be active, healthy, and happy! In Chapter 2: Physical Activity Has Many Health Benefits. 2009.
• Westby MD. A health professional's guide to exercise prescription for people with arthritis: a review of aerobic fitness activities. Arthritis Rheum. 2001;45(6):501-11.
• Hall J, Skevington SM, Maddison PJ, Chapman K. A randomized and controlled trial of hydrotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 1996;9(3):206-15.
• Tomas-Carus P, Gusi N, Hakkinen A, Hakkinen K, Leal A, and Ortega-Alonso A. Eight months of physical training in warm water improves physical and mental health in women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2008;40(4):248-52.
• Broman G, Quintana M, Engardt M, Gullstrand L, Jansson E, and Kaijser L. Older women's cardiovascular responses to deep-water running. J Aging Phys Act. 2006;14(1):29-40.
• Cider A, Svealv BG, Tang MS, Schaufelberger M, and Andersson B. Immersion in warm water induces improvement in cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2006;8(3):308-13.
• Bartels EM, Lund H, Hagen KB, Dagfinrud H, Christensen R, Danneskiold-Samsøe B. Aquatic exercise for the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;3:CD005523.
• Berger BG, and Owen DR. Mood alteration with yoga and swimming: aerobic exercise may not be necessary. Percept Mot Skills. 1992;75(3 Pt 2):1331-43.
• Gowans SE and deHueck A. Pool exercise for individuals with fibromyalgia. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2007;19(2):168-73.
• Hartmann S and Bung P. Physical exercise during pregnancy—physiological considerations and recommendations. J Perinat Med. 1999;27(3):204-15.
• Mactavish JB and Schleien SJ. Re-injecting spontaneity and balance in family life: parents' perspectives on recreation in families that include children with developmental disability. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2004;48(Pt 2):123-41.
• Sato D, Kaneda K, Wakabayashi H, and Nomura T. The water exercise improves health-related quality of life of frail elderly people at day service facility. Qual Life Res. 2007;16:1577-85.
• Rotstein A, Harush M, and Vaisman N. The effect of water exercise program on bone density of postmenopausal Women. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008;48(3):352-9.

Healthy Swimming

CDC’s Healthy Swimming website provides information on how to have healthy and safe swimming experiences while minimizing illness and injury.

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