Since 2013, my nonprofit, ConnectSafely, has been the official U.S. coordinator for Safer Internet Day, following an agreement between the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to officially include the U.S. in what is now a global event celebrated in more than 100 countries.
This is an important time to focus on internet safety. Because of likely reductions in protective measures from tech companies and the federal government, it’s more important than ever to promote safety, privacy and security to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Although the benefits are many, there are also risks, including incessant scams, impact on personal wellness, misinformation and malware.
Events and programs
There’s a live Safer Internet Day event in Sacramento this coming Tuesday, Feb. 11, along with a virtual webinar co-sponsored by the National PTA and more than 30 local ConnectSafely supported Safer Internet Day programs in schools and communities across the country. Many other organizations and businesses are also hosting Safer Internet Day programs in the U.S. and other countries.
Our 2025 theme is “Empowering Youth as Stakeholders” to give young people a seat at the table where important decisions are made. In addition to parents and educators who make decisions for young people, there are lots of adult policymakers drafting federal and state legislation and enforcing rules that impact youth. But in many cases, young people have little or nothing to say about policies that impact their lives. We want to make sure they are seen and heard.
Don’t assume that including youth means ignoring risks. A recent survey from the Family Online Safety Institute found that teens are near equally concerned about online risks as are their parents, and that “Teens feel a strong sense of personal responsibility for managing their digital well-being.” It may surprise you that some teens I’ve spoken with want stricter rules and parental supervision.
Everyone can participate in Safer Internet Day. You can attend the parent webinar at safer.connectsafely.org/family-program. Watch the stream of the live event and have your own “event” at home, at work or wherever you connect with other people by simply having a conversation about what we can all do to make the internet better and safer for everyone, including children, teens, seniors, marginalized communities and everyone else. There are many resources at ConnectSafely.org and on the special Safer Internet Day site: Safer.ConnectSafely.org. These include guides and concise Quick-Guides to popular apps such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Roblox, along with information on such topics as cyberbullying, sextortion, hate speech, misinformation and media literacy, cybersecurity and more. There are also materials for seniors, online daters and parents of very young children. You’ll also find podcasts, videos and other resources, including the “Wellness Wednesday Tips.”
Safer Internet Day is a good time for a family conversation over dinner or perhaps a chat with colleagues at work regarding security and privacy. Engaging children and teens is especially important, but make it a friendly and informal conversation, not a lecture or inquisition. Start by asking your children and teens about the apps they use and why they like them. After you talk about the good stuff, maybe ask how they make sure they’re safe and secure and that their privacy is protected. Turn the tables by asking them for advice on how the adults in the family can protect themselves. It’s empowering for kids to be the “teachers,” and besides, you might learn a thing or two.
Although no subjects are off-limits, ConnectSafely’s family and school resources for Safer Internet Day focus on six core areas: Generative AI., Civility, Picking on Peers (aka Cyberbullying), Wellness and Self Respect, Scams, Predators and Creeps and Media Literacy and Critical Thinking. You can find these by clicking Family Program or Student Program on the navbar at Safer.ConnectSafely.org.
The Sacramento event will be streamed live and archived at ConnectSafely.org/stream25. Tony Thurmond, California State superintendent of public instruction, is the keynote speaker. Several state legislators will be present along with tech executives and students from high schools around the state. There will be a multi-stakeholder panel: How Tech Companies Design with Youth in Mind, featuring executives from TikTok, YouTube and Instagram along with a panel on Promoting Resilience and Well-Being in a Connected World with speakers from Snapchat, Roblox and Thriving in Games Group and an adolescent psychologist. Both panels will also have student representatives, and there will be roundtable discussions where students, legislators and other adult stakeholders can workshop ideas on policy issues and safety proposals.
In addition to ConnectSafely, there are other organizations with excellent online safety materials, including the Family Online Safety Institute, Common Sense Media and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. There are also a lot of excellent government resources, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect project and resources from the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, FCC and other agencies.
When it comes to staying safe online, “it takes a village” is an understatement. When it comes to online safety, it takes all stakeholders — government, businesses, communities, parents and everyone who goes online, including children and teens.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.