Safer Internet Day 2017 set to be biggest yet as free resources launched to help schools get involved

Safer Internet Day is the UK’s biggest campaign to inspire children and young people to ‘Be the change’ and use technology positively and responsibly. To help schools get involved on 7th February 2017, the UK Safer Internet Centre has launched a range of new resources that explore the power of image and video in young people’s digital lives.

From films and a photography project, to lesson plans and presentations, the age-tailored resources will enable schools to deliver engaging activities for Safer Internet Day and empower their students, staff and parents and carers to use technology safely, positively and responsibly.   

Safer Internet Day 2017

On 7th February 2017, Safer Internet Day will be celebrated globally with the slogan ‘Be the change: Unite for a better internet’ with millions of people around the world uniting for a better internet.

Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration sees hundreds of schools and organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

The Safer Internet Day 2016 campaign reached 40% of all UK children, with schools across the country running whole school activities, lessons, holding parent sessions or getting involved in the social media campaign.

How can schools get involved?

Schools across the UK can get involved in a number of ways:

• Engage students by running assemblies or class activities (use the Safer Internet Day Education Packs) – or join our photography campaign to empower your students to create engaging images that communicate a message.
• Reach out to parents and carers by running a session or sharing information (use the Parent and Carer Pack for Safer Internet Day).
• Showcase what you are doing to support the day by joining the supporters list and sharing on social media.
• Join the social media campaign – find out how to get involved in the biggest global campaign about the safe use of technology and use our #giveasmile templates to encourage your pupils to create their own emoji or share positive messages.  

The impact of Safer Internet Day involvement

Engaging in Safer Internet Day can have a hugely positive impact. Last year, out of those children and young people who had heard about or engaged with Safer Internet Day, 87% said that as a result they felt more confident about what to do if they were concerned about something online. This year already 300 schools have joined the official supporters list for Safer Internet Day 2017 and it looks set to be the biggest Safer Internet Day yet.

As Will Gardner, Director of UK Safer Internet Centre, said:

Safer Internet Day is a moment in the year where children and young people, parents and carers and schools can all come together and talk openly and honestly about the positives of the internet as well as the potential risks.

With an ever-changing landscape, it is more important than ever to equip young people with the critical thinking skills they need to navigate the online world. These new educational and film resources will provoke discussion and inspire young people to be at the forefront of creating a better and safer internet.