Safer Internet Day 2017 Press Release

Safer Internet Day 2017 showcases the power of image in today’s digital youth culture

• Research by UK Safer Internet Centre highlights the positive and negative impact of online images and videos on young people
  
  
• The majority of children (84%) aged 8-17 have shared a photo online, with 1 in 6 doing so in the last hour
  
  
• 4 in 5 young people have been inspired by an online image or video to take positive action
  
  
• But more than 1 in 5 have been bullied with images or videos online and 70% have seen images and videos not suitable for their age
  
  
• Findings come as Safer Internet Day calls on communities to ‘Be the Change’ and unite for a better internet
  
  

[7th February 2017] To mark Safer Internet Day 2017 young people across the UK are joining Government ministers, celebrities, industry figures, schools and police services to inspire people to ‘Be the Change’ and unite for a better internet today. A new study commissioned by official organisers of the day, the UK Safer Internet Centre, explores the power and influence of images and videos in digital youth culture, highlighting the positives and potential risks, as well as identifying the key skills young people need to navigate today’s online world.

Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally in February each year to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. Over 1,600 organisations are supporting the day, including former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, the BBC, BT, Sky, O2, Vodafone, Lloyds Banking Group, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Google, NSPCC, Premier League football clubs and the UK Government, as well as police services, charities and schools across the UK, who are all coming together to deliver a range of inspiring activities. They’ll be joining hundreds of individuals supporting the #SID2017 social media campaign to inspire positive action, which is set to reach over 7.5 million with a mass tweet at 8.30am today.

Power of Image

New research launched to mark Safer Internet Day reveals that images and video play a central role in young people’s digital lives and are powerful tools of communication, self-expression and creativity. The majority (84%) of 8-17-year-olds have shared a photo online, rising from 73% of 8-12-year-olds to 95% of 13-17-year-olds. In the last hour, 1 in 8 young people (12%) surveyed said they had shared a selfie, almost 1 in 3 had used YouTube (31%), 1 in 4 had used Snapchat (25%), and more than 1 in 5 had used Instagram (22%).

Encouragingly, young people are using the power of image to make a difference: 4 in 5 young people (80%) said that in the last year they have felt inspired by an image or video online to do something positive. Furthermore, two thirds (67%) have posted an image or video on the internet for a variety of positive reasons, including to support friends (40%); to share something interesting with others (31%); and to encourage others to do something positive (17%).

However, while many of their experiences were positive, many young people are having negative experiences online:

• Almost 2 in 5 (38%) have received negative comments on a photo they have posted; this can have a real impact on young people’s expression, as 2 in 5 (40%) said that they sometimes don’t post images because of worries about mean comments.
• More than 1 in 5 (22%) of 8-17s said that someone has posted an image or video to bully them.
• 70% of 8-17s said they have seen images and videos not suitable for their age in the last year.
• Almost half (45%) of 13-17-year-olds have seen nude or nearly nude photos of someone they know being shared around their school or local community.

Magnified pressures

Our image-focused digital culture can mean young people face pressures, including body image concerns. According to the study, on average young people take 12 selfies before they are happy to post one online and 43% said they worry about how attractive they look when they share photos online. Furthermore, 45% have used a filter in the last year to make themselves look better. In particular, the study identified these trends mostly amongst 13-17 year old girls: almost two-thirds (61%) of them worry about how attractive they look when sharing photos online and nearly half (47%) of them have felt sad about their appearance after seeing a particular image or video online.

Risky behaviour

The study also highlighted the need for young people to better understand privacy controls when sharing images and videos. Over half (56%) of young people aged 8-17 years said they have shared images or videos on a public social media profile, with almost a third (31%) saying that most of the photos they share are on a public profile that can be seen by anyone.

Whilst just over half (51%) said they always think about what personal information they could be sharing before they post a photo or video online, nearly a third (30%) of 8-17 year olds have shared a photo they wouldn’t want their parents or carers to see. Almost a quarter (23%) said they don’t know how to control who can see what they post on social media sites.

More worryingly, the majority of young people have shared an image or video with a stranger: 65% of 8-17-year-olds have shared images or videos directly with people they only know online, with more than a quarter (27%) saying they have done so in the last day. Despite this, nearly 2 in 5 (38%) say they worry about losing control of an image they have shared online.

The research also emphasised the importance of developing young people’s critical thinking skills when using the internet. Although the findings revealed nearly three quarters (70%) of young people surveyed agree that images and videos can be misleading and don’t always tell the full story, 48% said they are more likely to trust something has happened if they see an image or video of it.

Safer Internet Day 2017 in action

To explore the power and influence of images in young people’s digital lives the UK Safer Internet Centre has delivered a range of activities including:

• Schools across the UK are using the Education Packs and SID TV films to empower young people to use images and videos safely and positively.
• Young people across the UK have been taking part in a youth photo campaign to create engaging photos to explore the power and influence of images in their lives, with images being exhibited at youth events across the UK today and in an online gallery.
• People across the UK have been joining the #giveasmile social media campaign to use the power of emojis and selfies to help make the internet a more positive place.

Will Gardner, a Director of the UK Safer Internet Centre and CEO of Childnet, said about the day:

“It is fair to say that in 2017 the internet is powered by images and videos. This can magnify the risks and pressures that young people face, while also offering fun new opportunities for self-expression and creativity.”

“Today’s findings remind us that with an ever-changing landscape, it is more important than ever to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, confidence and resilience to communicate using images and videos responsibly and positively.”

“This Safer Internet Day young people around the UK are uniting to inspire a better internet. We need to harness this enthusiasm and empower them to ‘Be the Change’ and use the power of image to help create a better internet.”

Minister for Online Safety, Tracey Crouch, said:

“The internet has provided young people with some amazing opportunities, but one of our top priorities is protecting them from risks they might face online. The UK is a world leader in internet safety, and measures in our Digital Economy Bill will be instrumental in better protecting children from harmful content. But there is still more to do, and Safer Internet Day is a fantastic reminder that we all have a part to play in making the online world a safer place for our children to discover, explore and enjoy.”

Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families, Edward Timpson, said:

“The internet is a powerful tool that gives children and young people many fantastic opportunities – but protecting them from the risks they might face online or on their phones remains absolutely vital. That’s why I’m pleased to be able to support Safer Internet Day again this year, and look forward to hearing how schools and pupils take part.”

“At the Department for Education, we’re continuing to work hard to make sure that young people, parents and teachers, are actively involved in promoting safe online practice, and we’ve been providing training and resources to support teachers in delivering the new curriculum, which includes e-safety.”

For more information about the activities taking place to celebrate Safer Internet Day, plus resources and advice for young people, parents, carers and teachers, visit the UK Safer Internet Centre website, www.saferinternet.org.uk.

Media contacts

For media enquiries, please contact Claire Lundie or Nancy Best at Teneo Blue Rubicon: [email protected] / 020 7260 2700 / 07912 553 314

Notes to editors

About the research:

• See the Power of Image Report
• The ‘Power of Image’ survey was conducted online by ResearchBods between 1-8 December 2016 with a representative sample of 1,500 young people aged 8-17 years olds in the United Kingdom. The children and young people who completed the survey are part of the SurveyBods Consumer Access panel, which has a specialist youth section enabling young people under the age of 16 to directly complete surveys.
• ResearchBods is an award winning research services company, providing consumer access panels, insight communities and software for the research industry. Through unique direct to youth research panels, ResearchBods enables companies to speak directly to young people and provides a voice for young people in the UK. ResearchBods have access to over 300,000 UK consumer through SurveyBods, their Consumer Access Panel.

About Safer Internet Day:

Safer Internet Day 2017 will take place on Tuesday 7th February with the theme ‘Be the change: unite for a better internet’.

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

The UK Safer Internet Centre – a partnership of three leading charities; Childnet, the South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation – provide resources for children, schools and families, and tools for getting involved at www.saferinternet.org.uk.

Globally, Safer Internet Day is celebrated in over a hundred countries, coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and national Safer Internet Centres across Europe.

The day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community. It calls upon young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and wider, to join together in helping to create a better internet.

About the UK Safer Internet Centre:

The UK Safer Internet Centre is a partnership of three leading charities; Childnet, the South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation. The partnership was appointed by the European Commission as the Safer Internet Centre for the UK in January 2011 and is one of the 31 Safer Internet Centres of the Insafe network.

In addition to coordinating Safer Internet Day, the UK Safer Internet Centre has three main functions to promote the safe and responsible use of technology:

• Awareness Centre: to provide advice and support to children and young people, parents and carers, schools and the children’s workforce and to coordinate Safer Internet Day across UK.
• Helpline: to provide support to professionals working with children and young people with online safety issues.
• Hotline: an anonymous and safe place to report and remove child sexual abuse imagery and videos, wherever they are found in the world.

Find out more at www.saferinternet.org.uk.

Key tips for young people and parents from the UK Safer Internet Centre

How can young people ‘Be the Change’?

• Be kind: use images and videos to make a positive impact, and think carefully about the impact on others before you share something online.
• Be a critical thinker: seeing is not believing… when you see something online take a moment to see the full picture.
• Be you: technology provides a powerful way to express yourself. Think about what your images and videos say about you, are you happy with the story you are telling? Don’t be pressured into doing something online you don’t feel comfortable with.
• Be a digital citizen: report anything you see online, including images and videos, which are offensive, upsetting or inappropriate. Speak to a trusted adult if something worries you.
• Be a good friend: look out for your friends online and make sure you are only posting images and videos that they would want to go online.
• Be the change: use the positive power of images and videos to help create a better internet.

How can parents and carers ‘Be the Change’?

• Be engaged: talk regularly with your children about how they use technology, and find out what their digital life is like, including how they communicate using images and videos. Perhaps you can start off by discussing your favourite emojis?
• Be curious: technology continually changes, and while you don’t need to be a tech expert, you do need to be curious about the apps and services your children use, how they are used and what safety tools they have available.
• Be there: the most important thing is to ensure that you are there if something goes wrong. Your child might be very embarrassed to discuss the issue they are facing so reassure them that they can turn to you no matter what.

What else is available?

• Watch SID TV films for children, young people and parents/carers
• Tweet @UK_SIC and join the conversation using #SID2017
• Follow on Instagram @UK_SIC to play your part and #giveasmile
• Reach out to parents: share the conversation starters on the page for parents and carers
• Reach out to young people: share the tips and films on the page for under-11s and page for 11-18s
• Run educational sessions for young people and parents: check out the Education Packs
• Promote SID on your website or blog using the banners, logos and template text
• See the activities taking place across the UK on our Supporters page
• See high profile supporters on the Safer Internet Day celebrity page

Quotes from Safer Internet Day supporters

Former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle:

“I’m delighted to be supporting Safer Internet Day for a fourth year. After my own experience of online abuse, I felt it was my responsibility to turn my experience into something positive and there’s so much to celebrate in today’s report. Images and videos have the power to inspire young people and it is encouraging to hear that so many young people are sharing images and videos online to make a positive difference. We all need to ‘Be the Change’ as responsible digital citizens – that means knowing how to report anything you see online, including images and videos, which are offensive, upsetting or inappropriate. Together we can unite for a better internet.”

Minister for Online Safety, Tracey Crouch:

“The internet has provided young people with some amazing opportunities, but one of our top priorities is protecting them from risks they might face online. The UK is a world leader in internet safety, and measures in our Digital Economy Bill will be instrumental in better protecting children from harmful content. But there is still more to do, and Safer Internet Day is a fantastic reminder that we all have a part to play in making the online world a safer place for our children to discover, explore and enjoy.”

Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families, Edward Timpson:

“The internet is a powerful tool that gives children and young people many fantastic opportunities – but protecting them from the risks they might face online or on their phones remains absolutely vital. That’s why I’m pleased to be able to support Safer Internet Day again this year, and look forward to hearing how schools and pupils take part.”

“At the Department for Education, we’re continuing to work hard to make sure that young people, parents and teachers, are actively involved in promoting safe online practice, and we’ve been providing training and resources to support teachers in delivering the new curriculum, which includes e-safety.”

Peter Weir, Education Minister, Northern Ireland Government:

“Events such as Safer Internet Day are an effective and important way to increase awareness of online safety. With the increasing use of digital technology, it is vital that our young people are aware of the potential dangers online and understand how to keep themselves safe. Safeguarding children is of paramount importance and C2k’s Education Network service, available to all pupils, has been designed with a clear focus on Online Safety with built in controls to protect users as well as operating a rigorous internet filtering policy, however, we all have a role to play in continuing to highlight possible dangers.”

Mark McDonald MSP, Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Scottish Government:

“We want all of our children and young people to benefit from the great opportunities the internet has to offer in a safe and secure environment. Safer Internet Day is an excellent opportunity to encourage young people to think carefully about how they behave online, and this year’s focus is on the power of images and videos. By educating young people about online safety we can ensure the internet remains a safe place and a fantastic resource.”

Kirsty Williams, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Welsh Government:

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our young people, and knowing how to keep them safe online is a key priority for me. It is essential we teach our children and young people how to use the internet safely and responsibly as well as equip them with the skills to be able to think critically and navigate the digital world in a safe and responsible way. Safer Internet Day provides us with another valuable opportunity to raise vital awareness of these important issues.”

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, National Policing Lead for Violence and Public Protection, Child Protection and Abuse Investigation:

“The National Police Chiefs Council have a strong relationships with Childnet, the Safer Internet Centre and NCA-CEOP, having worked together for a number of years to make the internet a safer place. SID not only provides a great opportunity to engage with industry, education and Police Partners, who are working together to help keep children safe online but provides a direct engagement with the public on key messages and available support services. The reach of the event last year was testament to all the agencies working together to positively challenge and promote online safety.”

Alice Webb, Director BBC Children’s:

“The internet wasn’t built with children in mind, yet they are the most enthusiastic and immersed users of it. It brings them joy, opportunity, education and much more. But with it so comes risk, upset and danger if we let it. Safer Internet Day brings collective focus on the core principles that allow children to thrive online, not just survive – the BBC is proud to participate and support a safer internet, not just today, but every other day too.”

Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield:

“I am pleased to support Safer Internet Day as I want all children and young people to feel better prepared to take on the incredible opportunities that the internet offers while confidently navigating the challenges it can present. In the lead up to Safer Internet Day, I recommended a number of changes in order to improve the experiences of children online. I called for a mandatory digital citizenship programme for all children to build their understanding and resilience and to learn about their digital rights and responsibilities. I also urged social media companies to be more transparent by rewriting their terms and conditions so that children can actually understand them. I want to see a rebalancing of power between children and social media platforms by appointing a Children’s Digital Ombudsman to mediate on behalf of children over complaints and the removal of content. Giving children the resilience, information and power to navigate the internet is a critical step towards ensuring that they have the tools to be the change and unite for a better internet.”

Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Sally Holland:

“The right to information and to freedom of expression are rights within the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child that children can enjoy online. However, they also have rights to privacy and to protection from harm that are often challenged in the digital world. Our job as a society is to empower children to become digital citizens who lead safe, happy and healthy lives, both online and offline. Safer Internet Day makes a valuable contribution to this.”

Sonia Livingstone, LSE Professor, UKCCIS Evidence Champion and principal investigator of Global Kids Online:

“It’s great that the Safer Internet Centre commissions new research for each Safer Internet Day, as it’s vital that policy and practice are grounded in a representative survey of children’s online experiences. This year’s survey captures the huge importance of images for young people growing up in the digital age. These pose a host of risky opportunities – often creative and pleasurable, yet too often also pressurising and harassing. Each statistic revealing how many children struggle – to check if images are truthful, to control who sees an image, to deal with an upsetting image – should focus the minds of industry, schools and parents in supporting children.”

Martha Evans, Coordinator of the Anti-Bullying Alliance:

“Whilst images have potential to be negative they also have the power to change our lives, to teach us thing we didn’t know, to be creative and to share our experiences. We must show children and young people how they can use digital media to be a force for good and guide them to understand how to keep safe, have fun and be connected online. That is why we are proud to be one of the many organisations supporting Safer Internet Day and why we stand in solidarity with all children, young people and adults that lead by example and take active steps to #giveasmile and make the internet a positive and safe space.”

David Austin, Chief Executive, BBFC:

“Children are increasingly enjoying and exploring content online, be it films, TV programmes or music videos. Ensuring children are protected online and providing them with the tools they need to make informed, age appropriate decisions about what they watch, is at the heart of the BBFC’s work. We also work with Mobile Network Operators to ensure their filters keep children protected from online content accessed on mobile devices that we would age rate as only suitable for adults. It is very encouraging to see children working together to help make the internet a positive and safe place for them to watch, share, enjoy and create content. Supporting Safer Internet Day is a fantastic way to highlight the work being done by organisations, and by children, to ensure the internet is a positive and safe environment for children. We will be encouraging children and their parents to access our CBBFC website to see child-friendly BBFC insight, and reminding parents to download our free BBFC app, to ensure they have access to age ratings and BBFCinsight guidance for the films and VOD content they want to watch online.”

Lorin LaFave, Founder, The Breck Foundation:

“The Breck Foundation strives to Educate the Digital Generation of the dangers young people face online every day by relaying the tragic story of my 14 year old son, Breck Bednar, who was sadly lured to his death by someone he met on-line through friends from school. We whole heartedly support Safer Internet Day as we unite together to help young people recognise the warning signs of grooming, bullying and CSE so that they may choose the best decisions online for themselves and others, helping to make the internet a safer place for all. Only through education and empowerment can we achieve our mission to #PlayVIrtualLiveReal.”

Pete Oliver, MD Consumer Commercial Marketing and Digital, BT:

“At BT we’re committed to keeping families safe online in a number of ways throughout the year. Safer Internet Day is a really important calendar event because of the number of organisations, charities and schools taking part and working together. We’re really pleased to be hosting and supporting Safer Internet Day 2017 and hope parents take the opportunity to talk about internet safety with their children.”

Tessy Ojo, Chief Executive, Diana Award:

“The Diana Award’s Antibullying Campaign champions against bullying by engaging young people to change attitudes, behaviours and culture of bullying across society. We are proud to support Safer Internet Day 2017 because we believe that young people deserve to be safe both on and offline and that young people also need to be involved in the conversation about the positive use of technology.”

Boel Ferguson, Vice President and General Manager Disney Interactive EMEA & UK:

“With so many children turning to digital and online experiences for entertainment we are fully behind the unending support that Childnet and the Safer Internet Centre give to children and families. We are pleased to support Safer Internet Day, to take the time to focus on how we can continue to help our audiences get the most enjoyment from the Internet.”

Caroline Millin, Facebook, ‎Safety Policy Programmes Manager EMEA:

“Safety has been at the heart of our 13-year journey to help people of all ages connect with friends and family in a safe environment. Safer Internet Day is a great example of how we can all come together to empower and educate people on navigating the internet safely. Many of our tools and resources have been created over time with the help of our Safer Internet Day partner organisations, all built with safety at the forefront. As part of this, we’ve recently launched a brand new Parents Portal, which provides parents with all of the practical tips and resources they may need to help navigate safety tools on Facebook – whether that’s for their personal account or for their teen’s – and ways to connect with online safety organisations for additional resources.”

Katie O’Donovan, Public Policy Manager, Google UK:

“The internet provides young people with a great way to learn, create and entertain but at the same time it’s important to make sure everyone has the skills to stay safe and act responsibly online. Google has a long-standing commitment to online safety and is a proud supporter of Safer Internet Day. We will once again mark the day on Google’s homepage to raise awareness about the importance of privacy and security. We’re also hosting a special Internet Legends assembly for over 100 primary schools in London on the day.”

Michelle Napchan, Instagram Head of Policy, EMEA:

“Every day, teens use Instagram and the power of imagery to connect, evoke empathy and inspire action. We are proud to support Safer Internet Day and work to equip young people with the knowledge and tools to keep Instagram a positive and safe place for self expression.”

Carolyn Bunting, General Manager of Internet Matters:

“Child internet safety remains a top concern for parents across the UK, which is why it’s so important to support events like Safer Internet Day which brings together organisations like ours for a common purpose. We want to help parents understand the potential hazards of their children going online and how these can be overcome by becoming active in their children’s lives at the earliest possible age, so their children can grow up believing the internet to be a positive place.”

Nick Williams, Managing Director, Consumer and Commercial Digital, Lloyds Banking Group:

“Lloyds Banking Group is delighted to support Safer Internet Day. We are encouraging our network of over 23,000 Digital Champions across the UK to get involved with volunteering at local schools or with networks such as Scouts, Girl Guides and School Governors. Their aim is to promote and raise awareness of the safe and positive use of the internet amongst young people, parents, guardians and carers.”

Siôn Humphreys, Specialist Advisor, NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers):

“Schools play a vital part in enabling children and young people to engage safely and confidently with the internet, both as ‘intelligent consumers’ of content and as productive contributors. NAHT is proud to support Safer Internet Day and the contribution it makes in supporting schools in this work.”

Chris Keates, General Secretary, NASUWT:

“Technology has transformed the learning experiences of many children and young people and made significant improvements to the working lives and practices of many teachers. When used appropriately the benefits can be enormous. However, the abuse and misuse of technology has blighted too many lives, adversely affecting health, welfare and well-being. As the largest teachers’ union in the UK, the NASUWT has led, for many years, the campaign to protect all teachers, school leaders, children and young people from cyberbullying and women and girls from sexual harassment on-line. Our advice, support and training continue to make a significant contribution to creating safer workplaces and learning environments. The NASUWT is pleased, therefore, to add its support to Safer Internet Day, which is an excellent opportunity to highlight all of the positive benefits of technology while raising awareness of the dangers by highlighting to teachers and school leaders the NASUWT’s guidance for staying safe on line.”

Kevin Courtney, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers:

“Online safety is of vital importance for pupils and teachers alike. Using the internet enhances learning but provides challenges as well as opportunities. The NUT is supporting Safer Internet Day 2017 as an opportunity for everyone to come together in promoting positive online behaviour, tackling unacceptable activity and helping pupils and teachers use online technology responsibly and effectively.”

NSPCC’s Chief Executive Peter Wanless:

“For today’s children the online world is part of everyday life so it’s vital they are safe and know how to get help if they need it. Parents need to feel confident that their children are protected when they’re online, and setting up parental controls, alongside regular chats about their digital lives, can go a long way to minimizing the risks. Keeping children safe online is everyone’s responsibility, so I hope Safer Internet Day will inspire more tech companies to unite with government and organisations like the NSPCC to build a better internet for children.”

Jacqueline Beauchere, Chief Online Safety Officer, Microsoft:

“Microsoft is honored to again be participating in Safer Internet Day. Our approach to the 2017 theme is to focus on ‘digital civility’ – leading with empathy in all digital interactions, and treating each other with respect and dignity online. We know that online risks have real-world consequences, so we’re challenging youth and adults alike to commit daily to four behavioral tents and to share their successes on social media. We aim to create online services where people feel safe, and we’re hoping our work will serve as a platform for follow-on digital civility initiatives from other groups. Learn more at: www.microsoft.com/saferonline.”

Emily Keaney, Head of Children’s Research at Ofcom:

“We are very pleased to play our part helping children and young people understand the benefits and risks of being online. We will be providing materials based on our research, to help children at school and encourage them to think about the type of content they see online.”

Nina Bibby, Chief Marketing Officer at O2:

“The digital world is the new normal for young people who have never known anything else – for them, there is often little distinction between the realms of online and offline. But our research shows that parents have completely different approaches to keeping their kids safe in the physical world compared to the online world. The internet presents enormous opportunities, but at the same time it can also present risks. Safer Internet Day is a great time for parents to put aside their analogue upbringing and seek help and advice with parenting in the digital age. At O2, we’re passionate about helping families get the most out of tech – and keeping young people safe online is a key part of that. That’s why we’ve set up a free advice helpline with the NSPCC, and our Gurus in-stores nationwide can give guidance too. From setting up parental controls, to being able to have conversations with their children about the latest apps, we want parents to feel as comfortable discussing what their child does online as they would their day at school.”

Jack Eatherley, Head of Sky Academy:

“We want Sky to be the safest place for families to enjoy content, whether online or on-screen. We are passionate about the development of young people both through the work we do with Sky Academy and in backing Internet Matters, one of the leading resources for advice on keeping children safe online. Last month we were delighted to support Safer Internet Day through a series of workshops across Europe, bringing together young people as well as key influencers. We’ve produced a video all about those workshops, which we’ll use to promote the day and inspire our customers, staff and partners.”

Micah Schaffer, Director of Public Policy at Snap Inc:

“At Snapchat we’re proud to support Safer Internet Day. Images are powerful tools – on Safer Internet Day, Snapchatters around the world will see a special Geofilter that they can use to show their support for making the Internet a kinder place.”

Dido Harding, Chief Executive, TalkTalk:

“We should celebrate that children’s digital skills are growing, with today’s 6 year olds being as digitally advanced as 10 year olds were in 2014. As children become more digitally aware, however, it’s crucial parents are supported, so that they can stay one step ahead. That’s why we created Internet Matters, giving parents the expert advice they need to understand digital risks and how to protect their children against them, and why we’re supporting Safer Internet Day.”

Julian David, CEO of techUK:

“Parents, teachers, Government and the technology industry are working hard to ensure the online world is a positive place for children and young people. From helping with homework to making family video calls to gaming, the online world can enable learning, creativity and communication. However, the explosion of new products and services can bring new risks for keeping our children safe. Safer Internet Day 2017 highlights the evolving challenges and opportunities that are presented to young people online, by calling attention to how we – industry, government and the public – can help provide the critical thinking, knowledge, resilience, and support children need to be safe online.”

Kira O’Connor, Public Policy, Twitter:

“Safety is something that will never be ‘done’ and Safer Internet Day is an important opportunity to think about how we can all contribute to making the internet a better place for everyone. #SaferInternetDay is a chance for great conversations with safety leaders like the UK Safer Internet Centre, young people themselves, and all internet users from around the world. At Twitter we’re committed to ensuring that people can control their own experience, but also know that we have clear rules about what is not acceptable and we will take action when people break those rules. In the past year we’ve introduced a number of changes, including a new, simplified way of reporting hateful conduct, and we continue to push ourselves to do more to ensure people can share their perspective wherever they are.”

Brigitte Trafford, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Virgin Media:

“Virgin Media is proud to support Safer Internet Day, which shows the role we can all play in helping to make the internet a safer, more positive place. That’s why we joined forces to found Internet Matters, and work closely with our customers, charities and the Government to help keep children safe online.”

Helen Lamprell, Vodafone UK Corporate & External Affairs Director:

“Vodafone is delighted to support the excellent work of the UK Safer Internet Centre. As part of our commitment to help children build digital resilience, we released the fifth edition of our Digital Parenting Magazine. This provides practical advice from parents, teachers and online safety experts. We also partner with the Diana Award delivering the online Be Strong programme, to ensure young people get the most out of the digital world whilst staying safe. Safer Internet Day is a great way to raise awareness of the issues but also the support that is available.”

Emma Ascroft, Senior Director, Public Policy, Yahoo:

“Once again Yahoo is excited to support Safer Internet Day! With this year’s theme, Be the change: unite for a better internet, Yahoo proudly celebrates our continued partnerships with the Internet Watch Foundation and Childnet International. Our ability to educate and promote safe and responsible use of the internet and mobile devices for young people has only been strengthened by these relationships. Through the renewal of our sponsorship for the creation of the UK Education Packs, Yahoo takes great pride in uniting with others to help create a better Internet and a safer world online”.