On 5 February, more than 140 countries around the world celebrated Safer Internet Day, an international event organized by the Insafe/Inhope Network, with the support of the European Commission. The purpose of the initiative is to promote greater awareness in using the Internet and help its users foresee and handle the risks associated with navigating it.
It is a day on which schools, institutions, associations, supervisory bodies, parents and ordinary citizens are encouraged to reflect together on the dangers and potentials of the Internet so as to help improve the system. This year’s theme, Together for a Better Internet, underscores the active and responsible role each “cybernaut” can play to make digital territories positive and safe places. Online security is a critical reality considering the lack of established rules that can guarantee safe and risk-free navigation, especially for young people and children all over the world. Half of the planet is connected; 7 out of 10 young people are online.
Since we seem to be moving toward a totally connected world, we must work to make the Internet secure for everyone. This is the goal of Safer Internet Day, now in its 16th edition.