Resources to "create a better Internet world"

Yesterday, February 11, was Safer Internet Day (#SID2014), an annual international event organized by InSafe to promote the safer and more responsible use of virtual technologies, especially among young people. Even if the day has passed, it's never too late to talk about it!

MediaSmarts participated in Canadian activities on the day to celebrate the theme of “Creating a Better Internet World”. Indeed, the organization has created resources that can be used at home and in the classroom.

Guide Think before sharing
In collaboration with Facebook, MediaSmarts has developed a guide and created a poster to give young people the tools they need to share content in a safe, smart and ethical way. We can download a copy of the guide or print poster for the home, classroom, computer lab, community center or library.

Foster ethical behavior online through the program On the right path
Teaching children ethical behavior online means teaching them to respect themselves and others. To this end, the program On the right path includes an interactive tutorial to help adults talk about ethics, empathy and respect with young people. It also includes tip sheets for parents and a series of teaching ideas for teachers on issues such as how to avoid unwanted content online, treat others with respect, and find legal download sites.

The Canadian Center for Child Protection was also an active participant in this day. For the 2014 edition, the organization presented new resources on Internet safety for parents who sometimes struggle to cope with the increasingly complex task of raising children in the digital age.

Co-founded by the European Union, the Safer Internet Day is also observed in France, where there are also several educational resources. In addition, for the first time, the United States has followed suit in 2014.