Today, 7 February 2012 is the ninth annual Safer Internet Day. The goal of Safer Internet Day is the promotion of safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people.
Taking place on the second day of the second week of the second month of the year, Safer Internet Day or SID is celebrated in over 70 countries worldwide.
In Europe, Safer Internet Day is coordinated by INSAFE, the network of Safer Internet Centres funded by the European Commission through the € 55 million Safer Internet Programme.
To mark the occasion, more than 100 events in 30 European countries will be taking place. This year’s Safer Internet Day campaign focuses on connecting generations and is organised under the motto «Discover the digital world together…safely».
The hope is that the technologically experienced youth will assist older generations in the use of new technologies, while in turn parents and grandparents will help younger generations to stay safe online by drawing on their life experiences.
The latter is especially important, as a survey from September 2011 showed that as much as 77% of 13-16 year olds and 38% of 9-12 year olds in Europe have a profile on a social networking site, with 56% of parents whose child has received nasty or hurtful messages online not aware of their child’s distress.
