Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people. It is promoted in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise.

The theme for Safer Internet Day is “Together for a Better Internet“ and, while Safer Internet Day 2021 looked a little different, thousands of people got involved to help create a safer, better, internet.

For Safer Internet Day 2021, the Irish Safer Internet Centre hosted a series of free online safety webinars for parents and educators.

The three webinars looked at Empowering Healthy Online Behaviour in Younger Children, Empowering Healthy Online Behaviour in Teenagers, and Empowering Students to Build Digital Resilience and Manage their Online Wellbeing.

The hosts for the webinars included Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, Cyberpsychology Researcher, member of the Cyberpsychology Research Group at the University of Wolverhampton and lectures in Cyberpsychology and Psychology in IADT, Dun Laoghaire, Mark Smyth, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and Jane McGarrigle and Tracy Hogan of Webwise.

The Irish SIC is a partnership of four leading organisations with a mission to make the Internet a better place for children and young people, under the coordination of Cybercrime, Department of Justice.

The programme partners include:

• Awareness and Education: Webwise (PDST Technology in Education)
• Helplines: ISPCC Childline and the National Parents Council Primary
• Hotline: Hotline.ie

The #BeKindOnline Webinar Series are available to watch again online.

Safer Internet Day 2021 took place on Tuesday, February 9th, and the were lots of ways to celebrate!

This SID Hub will provide you with lots of ideas, fun activities, and free resources that you can use to promote online safety not just on Safer Internet Day, but at any time of the year.

Remember, regardless of how big, or small, your event is make sure to register for Safer Internet Day and put your school or organisation on the map! When you register we will send you out a free Safer Internet Day pack including wristbands for all the participants.

Note: Registration is now closed.

We understand that Safer Internet Day activities may look a little different this year as we adapt to Covid-19 restrictions, and also the extra demands it may have placed on people’s time.

To take this into account, we have created a list of activities that could help to ensure that Safer Internet Day events are as fun and as vibrant as ever. It also includes free templates and activities, along with scripted presentations that can be easily adapted to the needs of individual teachers, or schools.

From doing a digital take-over, to taking your campaign online, or downloading an online safety quiz – here are 12 covid friendly ways to mark Safer Internet Day!

As we adapt to remote learning environments, managing our online wellbeing has never been more important. 

What is online wellbeing?

Our online wellbeing can be influenced by the content we see, the interactions we have, the choices we make, and even how long we spend using technology and the internet. This year, as we spend even more time online it is important to make time to consider how going online can influence the way we feel, think, and behave.

The theme for Safer Internet Day 2021 is online wellbeing and digital resilience, and the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel have created a list of ideas and activities that you could do to promote it as part of your #SID2021 campaign.

Free Safer Internet Day Presentations are available for Primary and Post-Primary level. These include Primary school presentations for use with 1st and 2nd class, 3rd and 4th class, and 5th and 6th class. The Post-Primary level presentation explore topics including News, Information and the Problems of False Information; Managing Your Online Wellbeing; Respectful Communication Online; Self-Esteem Online – The Full Picture.

The presentations, a full script/notes, and Take Home Activities can be downloaded for use in the classroom.