Today is Safer Internet Day, and NCTA is proud to once again be a sponsor of the initiative in support of a better and more informed internet experience for children and their families. This year, the theme for Safer Internet Day is "Improving Well-Being Online," with programs, videos and other resources focused on a variety of topics, including: cyberbullying, youth activism, misinformation, social comparison, fear of missing out, body image, extended reality and the metaverse, and free speech and moderation.
Safer Internet Day began in Europe in 2004, but the advocacy event became more widespread in the United States in 2014 when Connect Safely—a nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering families on internet safety—became the official American host for #SID. Since then, #SID has been celebrated in classrooms virtually across the country, and in pre-COVID times, in large, student-driven events in major cities including Austin, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
The cable industry has long prioritized families and provided ways to empower parents and their children with the resources and tools necessary to stay safe online. Cable internet service providers offer parental control functions for home internet networks as well as informational resources on how parents can talk to kids about how to best navigate their digital lives and stay safe on social media sites. More information on everything the cable industry offers for families can be found on FaMFriendly.com.
As stated by Connect Safely, "While we explore several important topics around online safety, privacy and security, we focus on well-being, especially in light of the pandemic, school closures and the isolation that many of us—young and old—have experienced for the past two years." Additionally, "Our goal this year is not to dwell on the negatives but acknowledge the challenges and explore the solutions. It’s all about making the internet a better place and promoting resilience and positive online experiences."
To get involved with Safer Internet Day, visit saferinternetday.us and use the hashtags #SID2022, #SaferInternetDay and follow the account @ConnectSafely.
