The European Union celebrates the 20th anniversary of Safer Internet Day on the 7th of February 2023. This global event aims to raise awareness about the responsible and safe use of the internet for all, particularly for children and young people.
This year’s theme, “Together for a better internet”, highlights the collective effort of all digital rights and internet safety stakeholders in the European Union institutions and the member states to create a secure and inclusive online environment for everyone. The EU is committed to supporting this goal by providing education, resources and legislation to promote internet safety.
To mark safer internet day 2023, the EU will host several virtual events and campaigns aimed at empowering individuals, educators, and businesses to take action in creating a safer internet for all, and especially for the youngest and most vulnerable digital users. These initiatives will include webinars, workshops, and online resources to educate people on the safe and responsible use of the internet.
For more information about safer internet day and the EU’s initiatives, please visit the official website at saferinternetday.org and follow the #saferinternetday and #sid2023 hashtags on social media. To find an event near you, select your country here. The EU encourages everyone to participate in safer internet day activities – in school, at home, with your group of friends and colleagues – and to make a commitment to building a better internet for all.
The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) is delighted to take part in the Safer Internet Day initiative, like every year. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the event, we have put together a quick guide of digital safety and detox tips that will prove useful when it comes to the safety of your personal data on digital channels, and might save you a little money, too.
Break the Bond
Your movements and location are tracked by your phone and various apps at all times unless you remove those permissions. But even this is not enough – if you are looking for a true tech break and turn off your smartphone altogether.
Annoying Apps
Your smartphone is essentially a collection of apps that collect and use your personal data, even when you are not actively using them. Have a digital clean-up and delete the apps you hardly ever use.
Conscious Uncoupling
WiFi is certainly a great thing when you are on the move, but connecting to public networks, especially when our phone is set up to find and connect to them automatically is not the safest, especially when networks collect location and personal data.
Mental Mindfulness
Mental health and fitness apps can help reduce anxiety and improve sleep better, but that comes at a cost: your physical and mental health data. Check the privacy boundaries of such apps and where the data is transferred for processing.
Dark & Devious
Beware of ‘dark patterns’ when browsing the internet, especially when shopping. These are design elements that pressure online shoppers to make unintended purchases by creating a sense of urgency. Learn how to avoid them and save yourself some money in the process.
Finally, if you are a parent or an educator, help your children stay safe in the digital world, particularly if they play games on the internet or use gaming apps on their smartphones. Check out our resources for teens here and encourage them to be more conscious of digital risks here.
Head over to Ireland’s Safer Internet Day Hub for ideas and resources, as well as various events to celebrate safer internet day 2023 by visiting webwise.ie/saferinternetday.
Learn more about digital safeguards from our collection of
digital safety resources on eccireland.ie here.
