This year, Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on 10 February and the focus is on the benefits, risks, and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is also an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to collaborating with and supporting schools across Ireland in equipping young people with the skills and knowledge they need to be safer online.
The EU-wide event aims to promote a safer internet for all users, especially children and is now in its 23rd year. It’s coordinated in Ireland by Oide Technology in Education and Webwise.
In support of the event, our Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett shared with students in every school in the country a set of educational resources designed to support teaching and learning about children’s rights online, and to encourage a critical-thinking approach to online information.
These resources included:
- A poster on children and young people’s rights online and the role of Coimisiún na Meán in upholding these rights.
- A Be Media Smart poster, with the message ‘Stop,Think,Check’, which promotes a critical eye and offers practical tips for children to assess the reliability of online information.
These materials were developed in consultation with Webwise and members of our Youth Advisory Committee to ensure they are accessible, age-appropriate, relevant and engaging.
Other useful resources, including videos, lesson plans, teachers guides and printable handouts can be found on the Guides & Resources section of our website.
For AI-specific resources, Webwise has developed Safer Internet Day presentations and lessons on the theme of AI for primary and post-primary levels available at webwise.ie/aiaware.
As well as this, to mark Safer Internet Day, Coimisiún na Meán and the Data Protection Commission will jointly publish tips for teenagers on using AI responsibly.