Safer Internet Day 2021

On Tuesday, 9 February 2021, we celebrate the 18th edition of Safer Internet Day.

This annual event takes place every February to promote safe and responsible use of the Internet and digital technologies, especially amongst children and young people.

Safer Internet Day is organised by the joint Insafe-INHOPE network with the support of the European Commission and funding provided under the Connecting Europe Facility Programme. In Ireland, Safer Internet Day is promoted and co-ordinated by Webwise, the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre.

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, will launch this year’s Safer Internet Day, which will be hosted online by the Department of Justice and the Irish Safer Internet Centre partners. This will be followed by a series of evening #BeKindOnline webinars throughout the week.

At the launch event, Professor Brian O’Neill will host a discussion panel with the Irish Safer Internet Centre partners and there will be an opportunity for participants to engage in a Q&A session.

The #BeKindOnline evening webinars will take place on 9, 10 and 11 February and will also be available on the Department of Justice’s social media pages. Guest speakers include Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, Dr Mark Smyth and Webwise.

These webinars are aimed at parents of teenagers, parents of younger children, teachers, educators, school leaders and education stakeholders. The theme of the webinars is empowering healthy online behaviour in children and young people.

For further details on the webinars, and to register your interest, please see below.

This year’s launch will be broadcast live on our YouTube, Twitter and Facebook channels from 2pm on 9 February 2021.

As part of Safer Internet Day, the Irish Safer Internet Centre will also host a series of webinars to help keep you and your families safe online:

Tuesday 9 February: 7.30pm - 8.15pm

• title: Empowering Healthy Online Behaviour in Teenagers
• guest speaker: 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
• audience: This webinar is for parents of teenagers

Register here.

Wednesday 10 February: 7.30pm - 8.15pm

• title: Empowering Healthy Online Behaviour in Younger Children
• guest speaker: Mark Smyth, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
• audience: This webinar is for parents of younger children

Register here.

Thursday 11 February: 7.30pm - 8.15pm

• title: Empowering students to build digital resilience and manage their online wellbeing
• guest speakers: Jane McGarrigle and Tracy Hogan (Webwise)
• audience: This webinar is for teachers, educators, school leaders and education stakeholders

Register here.