| | | | Welcome to the 29th edition of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) bulletin. This quarterly bulletin aims to keep you informed of safer and better internet issues and opportunities across Europe and beyond. In each edition, we'll bring you a mix of news, research and resources from many of the key stakeholders in keeping children and young people safe online, be they European Safer Internet Centres (SICs), research organisations, industry partners, policy makers or experts in the field.
In each edition of the BIK bulletin, we look at a topical issue – this time, we consider the sexualisation of culture, and of children and young people online. In recent times, there has been a heightened awareness among Safer Internet Centres in Europe about issues regarding the increasing sexualisation of culture and of young people online. These include issues such as the hypersexualised culture that surrounds us in the mass media and the impact this has on minors, alongside sexually motivated behaviours such as online sexual harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate content, sextortion, or transactional sexting. Our focus article explores some of these issues, and offers tips and resources for building awareness and resilience against them.
Also in this edition, we look back at the success of the recent celebration of Safer Internet Day 2022, including many instances of youth involvement, also within the wider context of the European Year of Youth. We already encourage you to save the date for the next edition of Safer Internet Day - Tuesday, 7 February 2023 - which will mark the 20th anniversary of this landmark campaign.
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And, if you have any comments on this resource, or would like to contribute to a future edition of the BIK bulletin, please contact us. | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | About the Better Internet
for Kids Project | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the European Commission (EC) has co-funded a range of better/safer internet services, both at the European and the national level. Building on the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (BIK Strategy) as published in 2012, the BIK core service platform aims to bring together European stakeholders in the field to work collaboratively in achieving the goal of a better internet for all. In the future, actions will be funded through the Digital Europe Programme, while the BIK Strategy will be updated imminently in 2022. This bulletin is just one of a range of tools and services provided. Keep following us across all BIK communication channels - see links in the footer of this email. | | | | | |  | | | | | | FOCUS ON... | | | | The sexualisation of culture, and of children and young people ONLINE | | | | | | | | | | | Back in November 2021, the Insafe network of European Safer Internet Centres (SICs) took part in a two-day online training meeting. A key topic of discussion was the sexualisation of culture and of children and young people; a complex and increasingly concerning set of online risks that many SICs find themselves having to address on a regular basis. Similar topics had also been raised in a Deep Dive session at the 2021 edition of Safer Internet Forum just a month previous, where a panel discussion had focused on harmful online content, experiences and solutions.
Here, we investigate some of the challenges and possible responses, drawing on network discussions and wider knowledge and research in this field.
Sexualisation of young people: an increasingly concerning issue affecting all genders
Capitalising on the capacity-building nature of the Insafe network, the training meeting discussion drew on network experiences, projects and resources to address issues pertaining to a whole host of issues linked to sexualisation. Young people are exposed to questionable or inappropriate content at a younger age as a result of the increase in the appearance of sexualised images in digital and media outlets, advertising, entertainment, and other popular culture outlets, the emergence of new forms of sexual experiences, and the apparent lack of regulations and limitations to children's access and consumption of such content.
There has been heightened awareness among the Insafe network about issues regarding the increasing sexualisation of culture and of young people online. These include – but are not limited to – the following risks: - Sexualisation of young people, and especially minors, with the receipt of unwelcome sexual requests, comments and content. It is worth noting that this can not only come from adult sexual predators, but also from peers and other young people.
- Exposure of children to an increasingly sexualised culture, and to inappropriate content. The exposure has increased over time and, unfortunately, society appears to have become desensitised to much of this type of content.
- Online sexual harassment, defined as unwanted sexual conduct on any digital platform, and recognised as a form of sexual violence.
- Non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos.
- Sextortion, coercion and threats: a person receiving sexual threats, being coerced to participate in sexual behaviour online, or blackmailed with sexual content.
- Transactional sexting: a new online form of sexual exploitation whereby intimate images are shared in exchange for money. Young people can be lured to engage in such activities for popularity or financial reasons, but equally young people are increasingly accessing such content as consumers.
Niels Van Paemel, Policy Advisor at Child Focus, the Belgian Safer Internet Centre, provided some insights on the topic during the training meeting.
While it is not easy to pinpoint the root causes of the sexualisation of young people, it is a dynamic common to many cultures that does not occur out of nowhere – the narrative implies that children are growing up in a world where they learn such behaviours from their surroundings and upbringing. The sexualisation of culture plays a fundamental role here: the increased sexualised content in mainstream media and social media platforms, the use of sexual content for advertising and marketing purposes, and the general pressure on children and young people to provide a highly curated image of themselves online even from a young age, are all factors contributing to the sexualisation of young people.
Indeed, what emerged from the discussions among SIC representatives is that children – in some cases as young as nine – have experienced sexting or have been involved in non-consensual sharing of intimate images. It should be noted, however, that it is difficult to ascertain the true extent of the issue due to the ethical limitations of conducting research with such a young age group.
The Belgian Safer Internet Centre has found that the sexual objectification and sexualisation of young people is not only a concerning online risk, but it is something that can affect their mental health in the long run, as it's heavily influenced by society and deeply rooted in the culture of many countries. In addition, it is a gendered issue, contributing to the perpetuation of harmful gender stereotypes and normalising sexual aggression or violence. If media outlets portray gender-based violence as trivial, then it will be less likely that victims will want to report it. Equally, if media outlets normalise unrealistic body standards, this can negatively impact the self-confidence and mental well-being of young people.
As an example, research conducted for the Dove Self Esteem Project found that only 11 per cent of girls worldwide would call themselves beautiful, and six in ten girls avoid participating in life activities because of concerns about the way they look. Australian girls list body image as one of their top three worries in life, while 81 per cent of 10-year-old girls in the United States say they are afraid of being fat.
It is important to underline that the risks around the sexualisation of culture affect all genders – girls, boys, and those young people who may be questioning their own identities but feel pressured by the media narrative and social expectations around gender. Niels surveyed the participants of the training meeting with a poll, asking "Who are the biggest victims of the sexualisation of culture?" None of the participants voted for option a) Boys and men, 46 per cent voted for b) Girls and women, and 53 per cent voted for c) Everyone. Indeed, the poll suggests that gender stereotypes linked to the sexual sphere are enduring and are harmful to all. Likewise, media coverage has suggested that although girls are more likely to be victims of sexual harassment online, the narrative of considering girls and boys as either always victims or perpetrators is unhelpful as research clearly shows this is not the case.
This is an extended-length focus article, covering issues such as lack of reporting and normalisation of abuse, how digital design can put children at risk, the rise of transactional sexting, and some examples of awareness raising and educational responses. Click read more below to read the full article on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) public portal.
Image credit: Hadi Slash/Pexels | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | INSAFE HELPLINES | | | | INCREASE IN CALLS LINKED TO SEXTING AND SEXTORTION | | | | | | | | | | | The Insafe network of helplines collects data about the types of calls received and this is analysed every three months to look at trends, and new and emerging issues. The most recent helpline data covers the period from October to December 2021. This reporting period saw over 19,000 contacts made to the helpline network (a considerable rise on the previous reporting period) and continued the overall upward trend in the number of people reaching out to helplines. There were over 67,000 contacts made to Insafe helplines during 2021 – the busiest year ever, which underlines the importance of the services they offer.
Among the key findings for this reporting period was the fact that between Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 in 2021, there was a significant increase in the number of calls received about sexting (98 per cent) and sextortion (49 per cent). Reflecting the concerns outlined in the focus article of this edition of the BIK bulletin around the sexualisation of children and young people in the online space generally, there has been heightened awareness about these issues recently. Hence, helplines have spent time discussing the challenges that young people are facing, and the barriers they face when reporting.
Image credit: Ron Lach/Pexels | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | INHOPE HOTLINES | | | | How to report on CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION: Journalism guidelines | | | | | | | | | | | The culture and environment, the medium of communication, and how we perceive certain words and tones are all factors that contribute to how we consume content. These factors – and more – impact how a reader will react to a news report. It is therefore important that journalists and publications alike apply guidelines when reporting on sensitive topics, such as child sexual abuse and exploitation, to ensure that the story being told is not also influenced by subjective factors.
Journalists have the power to shape how our society perceives stories of child sexual abuse (CSA) and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and INHOPE wants to promote best practices on reporting about CSA/CSAM, as set by child protection organisations. INHOPE is always looking for ways to grow its impact and work together to combat CSAM online, as well as to reduce the revictimisation of those affected.
In this article, we explore the key elements of journalism and how INHOPE's current media policy and media guidelines campaign supports the core ethics, credibility and role of journalists.
Image credit: INHOPE | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | SAFER INTERNET DAY | | | | | | |  | | | Safer Internet Day 2022 was a great success | | | | | | | Last month, on Tuesday, 8 February 2022, we celebrated Safer Internet Day (SID) for the 19th time. Under the unifying slogan of "Together for a better internet", we called upon all stakeholders to join forces and to help make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially for children and young people. Almost 190 countries and territories worldwide, along with many organisational supporters, celebrated the day with a range of events, activities and resource launches, while youth voices were at the heart of many actions (read more on both of these aspects below).
As in previous years, much activity took place on social media during the campaign countdown, while the #SID2022 and #SaferInternetDay hashtags trended worldwide several times on the day.
Additionally, for the first time this year, as part of a special 'Twitter Trend Takeover', the #SaferInternetDay hashtag was promoted as a trending topic in three countries: Belgium, Ireland and Spain gaining over 7.9 million impressions, 2.3 million video views, and over 67,000 engagements.
Read more about Safer Internet Day successes on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) website. | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | Safer Internet Day celebrations across Europe... and beyond | | | | | | | A key feature of Safer Internet Day (SID) celebrations each year is the wide range of activities which take place at national level. In Europe, Safer Internet Day celebrations are led by national Safer Internet Centres. Beyond Europe, Safer Internet Day Committees and SID Supporters lead the activities.
This year's celebration once again took place against a backdrop of challenges and restrictions posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, SID stakeholders demonstrated exceptional flexibility and creativity in marking the day, with many opting for fully digital celebrations from the outset of their planning activities or, at best, hybrid events.
Additionally, many SID stakeholders took the limitations of face-to-face interaction as an opportunity to develop new types of interactive online resources, or lesson modules to be delivered at a distance when in-school visits were not possible.
News stories on how various SID stakeholders marked the day are available from the newsfeed of the Safer Internet Day website. Have a browse and find out what happened near you.
| | | | | | | | |  | | | Save the date for Safer Internet Day 2023 | | | | | | | The next edition of Safer Internet Day will take place on Tuesday, 7 February 2023, when we will again join "Together for a better internet".
Next year's edition will also mark the 20th anniversary of the celebration of Safer Internet Day, and special activities are being planned for the occasion. Save the date in your diaries now!
Campaigning activities will start from September 2022 onwards, but keep checking the Safer Internet Day website in the meantime for the latest news and updates. | | | | | |  |  | | | | | BIK YOUTH | | | | | | |  | | | Spotlighting youth voices in Safer Internet Day celebrations | | | | | | | Children and young people are at the heart of what we do. Indeed, they are the main benefactors of the Safer Internet Day campaign – and the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) agenda more generally – as we unite across the globe to provide a safer and better internet for them, and seek to equip and empower them with the skills, knowledge and support to benefit from all of the wonderful opportunities that the online world has to offer.
Youth involvement was very prevalent in the 2022 celebrations, recognising also the European Commission's commitment to make 2022 the European Year of Youth (read more below) and ensure that youth voices are heard and listened to.
To kick start the celebrations, on the eve of Safer Internet Day, the European Commission published a couple of video clips (in English and French) on social media in which Vice-President Šuica and Commissioner Breton discussed children's digital rights and online safety with several BIK Youth Ambassadors, specifically focussing on the EU's actions in those areas.
In addition, a series of youth-led videos were published featuring Better Internet for Kids Youth Ambassadors and youth panellists from different countries in Europe exchanging views on their priorities online, the importance of digital skills, and their perspectives on how to ensure better online experiences in the future.
Youth representatives also participated in a live Twitter Spaces event, hosted by DG Home and DG CNECT of the European Commission, and represented the voice of youth at an EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Safer Internet Day Summit.
Read on to discover more about young people's involvement in Safer Internet Day 2022. | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | The European Year of Youth 2022 spirit: broad, inclusive and impactful | | | | | | | By making 2022 the European Year of Youth, the European Commission honours young people as agents of change and the bearers of ideas to build a better future. A future that will be greener, more digital, more inclusive and more peaceful.
The scope of the Year of Youth is broad in order to cover all policy areas that concern young people, be it employment, education, health, climate, digital, and so on. Young people are invited to make their voices heard and participate in various activities at all levels, throughout the year. Strengthening young people's democratic participation and providing dedicated youth spaces in all areas of society is, therefore, key to maintaining a vibrant civil society in Europe and is essential to promote our common values.
Read on to discover more and learn how you can get involved. | | | | | |  |  | | | | | TAKE ACTION -
TACKLE DISINFORMATION! | | | | | | |  | | | Media literacy is more important than ever | | | | | | | Fake news travels very fast. According to findings from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology research, false news spreads six times faster on Twitter than truthful stories. An overabundance of information makes it hard for users to find trustworthy and reliable sources and, most importantly, identify false and misleading content online. The Facts4All – School tackling disinformation project recently launched an online campaign with the aim of raising awareness of online disinformation, while also providing guidance on how best to consume online content.
Recognising that we are living in a period of information overload and experiencing a crisis of trust in information, Facts4All looks at the phenomenon of information disorder from the educational point of view. Based on input from the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres in Europe, there are many teachers in Europe who don't feel confident or knowledgeable to address social media literacy topics in schools. Some teachers find themselves 'lost' in amongst the proliferation of new social media channels and in the roles and functional capacities these platforms have. In brief, the rise in popularity of (social) media requires a new approach to the teaching of social media literacy.
In this context, Facts4All launched a range of practical assets – including a massive open online course (MOOC) – Schools tackling disinformation, nine short educational videos, and a 10 step guide to removing disinformation from your newsfeed – aimed at helping teachers to foster critical thinking skills and tackle online disinformation in schools.
Read on to discover more about the tools, which can be used and adapted for all consumers of online content. | | | | | |  |  | | | | | CAMPAIGNS, RESOURCES AND NEWS | | | | | | |  | | | Looking back on a year of Better Internet for Kids actions | | | | | | | The Better Internet for Kids review of the year 2021 was released on the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2022, providing an overview of a multitude of stakeholder efforts to protect children and young people online over the past year within the framework of the European Commission's Better Internet for Kids (BIK) programme.
While 2021 was undoubtedly a year of continuing uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on across the globe, bringing with it new variants and new challenges, Better Internet for Kids actions – and the network of Safer Internet Centres in Europe – continued to adapt to this new reality.
Safer Internet Centres continued to produce a range of awareness-raising resources, which is a standard feature of their work. However, in addition to responding to the more typical online safety opportunities and risks, they also covered topics related to well-being, especially in light of young lives mainly lived in the digital space for significant parts of the year. Helplines equally witnessed a shift in trends as the pandemic continued with, for example, fewer calls related to excessive use as parents and carers accepted that their children are spending more time online, particularly during lockdowns, but increased contacts related to love, relationships and sexuality online.
A considerable focus of activity during 2021 was on developing approaches that truly listen to, and act upon, the desires and demands of children and young people in shaping digital spaces, as was demonstrated through the #DigitalDecade4YOUth consultation work.
Read more about these and other actions in the full annual report. | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | Make informed online choices with the Positive Online Content Campaign | | | | | | | Since the start of the pandemic, digital content and services have played an important role for younger children; they've undoubtedly used them daily to stay connected with family and friends, to learn and keep up with homework, as well as to compensate for missing offline activities and cultural events.
Needless to say, digital and online experiences should be safe, age-appropriate, and overall positive for the youngest users. These are reasons enough to explore how positive online content and services offer special support to children, parents and teachers, as well as providing a source of fun.
The Positive Online Content Campaign is placing a spotlight on positive online content throughout 2022. Kick-start your appreciation of the many benefits of positive online content by checking out the campaign checklist. Why not use it as a starting point for a conversation with your children or pupils on this important topic?
| | | | | | | | |  | | | The Finnish Safer Internet Centre publishes a new guide for a sex positive media education approach for young people | | | | | | | | The guide provides teachers and educators with relevant and research-based information about sex and sexuality in the media that young people aged 13 to 18 are using. It offers tools and support to discuss these topics with young people, and contributes to a neutral and non-shaming discussion about sexuality and sexual cultures in the media. | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | Are you the real you, online? Digital identity and freedom | | | | | | | | The month of February was marked by Safer Internet Day. With several campaigns and activities, the Portuguese Safer Internet Centre advocated for a safer, more aware and healthier use of the internet, with a special focus on digital identity and online reputation. | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | The Greek Safer Internet Centre reflects on how online behaviour has changed as a result of the pandemic | | | | | | | In the paper "Surveying parental mediation and digital literacy. Were parents ready during COVID-19?", the Greek Safer Internet Centre explores the evolution of the online behaviour of children and young people due to the pandemic, and how parents and carers have had to adapt and keep up to date with new trends and technologies.
| | | |  |  | | | | | COMING UP... | | | | | | |  | | | Future editions of the BIK bulletin | | | | | | | We hope that you enjoy reading the quarterly Better Internet for Kids (BIK) bulletin. We'll be back at the end of June with the next edition, when we hope to bring you news on the updated Better Internet for Kids Strategy, and a Save the Date for Safer Internet Forum 2022.
We also hope to bring you a new format BIK bulletin - stay tuned for more information!
In the meantime, check out past editions of the BIK bulletin for coverage on a range of safer and better internet issues, and follow us on our social channels via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok. | | | | | | |
