Media Literacy Expert Group

15th June 2018

Gudrun Stock

Deputy Head of Unit

CNECT/G3 – Learning, Multilingualism & Accessibility

Today's digital environment

• One out of three Internet users is a child

• Even pre-school children are now consumers of digitalproducts and services, in particular they use small andprivate devices which allow mobility, 24/7 availability,ownership and autonomy.

• By 2020, 20.4 billion connected things are estimated to bein use worldwide, compared to 8.4 billion at the end of2017.

Risks vs Opportunities

• The digital environment offers children plenty of opportunities:in education, communication, entertainment and networking.

• On the other hand, kids are exposed to risks that can affect theirwell-being and development.

• 32% of children mentioned video-sharing sites as particularlyrisky, followed by websites, social networking sites and games.

European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (BIK)

WHAT?

• Creative and educational online content - positive online experiences for young children

• Awareness and empowerment - digital literacy and online safety in schools

• A safe age-appropriate environment for children

• Combat child sexual abuse material online and child sexual exploitation

HOW?

• Coordination; Financial support; Legislation; Self-regulation

• Involving Member States, industry and civil society

Network of Safer Internet Centres (Insafe and INHOPE)

• The Commission supports a pan-European network of Safer Internet Centres

• Coordinated at EU level by EUN/Insafe and INHOPE

• www.betterinternetforkids.eu is the single entry point to online tools and services for EU citizens and the Safer Internet community

Safer Internet Centres

• raise awareness and foster digital literacy among minors,parents and teachers, regarding risks minors mayencounter online and ways to protect them

• helpline counselling for minors

• hotlines to report illegal content (child sexual abusematerial)

Safer Internet Forum

• Key annual international conference in Europe under BIK Strategy addressing latest trends, risks and solutions related to child online safety

• Gathers policy makers, researchers, law enforcement bodies, youth, parents and carers, teachers, NGOs, industry representatives and experts

Safer Internet Day

• Annual flag-ship event to raise awareness of childonline safety around the world, reaching millionsof people in over 130 countries in 6 continents

• Organized by joint Insafe-INHOPE network, withCommission support

• Call for action to every stakeholder to play theirpart in creating a better internet for everyone, inparticular the youngest users

Find more here.

Alliance to Better protect minors online

• Self-regulatory multi-stakeholder initiative to improve the online environment for children and young people

• Gathers leading ICT and media companies, NGOs and UNICEF

• Addresses emerging risks that minors face online, such as harmful content and behaviour

• Launched on Safer Internet Day 2017

Find more here.

#SaferInternet4EU Campaign

• Launched by Commissioner Gabriel on Safer Internet Day 2018

• Aimed at making children, parents and teachers more aware of digital opportunities and challenges

• Federates efforts by different stakeholders at EU and national level involving key players in the digital and media landscape

• Will run throughout 2018 covering a wide range of topics, including:

critical thinking, media literacy

digital skills necessary to identify and combat fake news and seek trusted sources of information

cyber hygiene

• European contest to reward high quality resources and inspiring initiatives in three categories:

organisations, rewarding a high-quality and innovative online safety education programme, resource or awareness-raising campaign targeting youth, teachers or parents

teachers, rewarding a remarkable and inspiring initiative/resource/tool/solution from a single teacher or a group of teachers

youth, rewarding a remarkable and inspiring initiative/resource/tool/solution from a single young person or a group of youth

Find more here.

#SaferInternet4EU Awards

Find more here.

#SaferInternet4EU

Supported by an online safety MOOC:

• Offers teachers essential knowledge, tips and tools to tackle a wide range of issues in the classroom and beyond:

Fake new, hate speech, radicalisation

Online abuse, cyberbullying

Sextortion

Establishing positive online relationships

Impact of technology on health and well-being

Indicative Milestones for #SaferInternet4EU

• 6th February 2018: Safer Internet Day - Launch of the campaign

• 21st March 2018: Dedicated meeting with the Alliance in Brussels to take stoke of their support to the campaign

• May 2018: International missing children day

• September 2018: INSAFE Back to school campaign

• October 2018: Cyber-Security Month and Coding Week

• November 2018: Safer Internet Forum –#SaferInternet4EU awards " and Universal children's rights day