20th edition of Safer Internet Day: Making the internet better and safer for children and young people

On 7 February, the Commission was celebrating the 20^th edition of Safer Internet Day aimed to empower children and young people around the world to use digital technologies safely and more responsibly. To mark the occasion, it has published its child-friendly version of the Better Internet for Kids Strategy in all official EU languages and in Ukrainian. It has also released a child-friendly version of the Digital Principles Declaration alongside an online game on Digital Principles, so children and adolescents can learn about their rights in the digital world.

There are around 80 million people under 18 in the EU. Over the past year, the EU has introduced a number of tools that include measures to protect and empower young people online. These include the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, which has specific commitments regarding children online. It was signed by the Presidents of the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council in December 2022. In addition, the Digital Services Act that entered into force in November 2022 introduces strict rules to safeguard the privacy, safety and security of minors, and the European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) will improve age-appropriate digital services and contribute to ensuring that every child is protected, empowered and respected online.

Democracy and Demography Vice President Dubravka Šuica said: “In all our work we strive to ensure that children's rights apply online, as they apply offline. We are joining forces and ideas for a better and safer internet with equal opportunities and exciting discoveries for every child. We help build digital and media literacy skills of children and adolescents together with them to ensure that they are fully and equally included in the digital transition, in the EU and globally.”

Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, said: “After 20 editions of Safer Internet Day, the EU has a lot to be proud of. It has built a toolbox to empower and protect children and adolescents across the EU, and to make sure the next generation is digitally competent and confident. We will continue to work Together for a Better Internet, including on the Code of conduct on age-appropriate design which we will kick off soon.”

For the 20^th anniversary of Safer Internet Day, Vice-President Šuica and Commissioner Breton recorded video messages here and here.

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