Safer Internet Day 2025

Safer Internet Day

Internet safety becomes more important year by year due to rampant threats to cyber security and explicit online content. To educate everyone about online security and keep them protected, Safer Internet Day (SID) is held annually on the first Tuesday of February.   The day is commemorated globally to promote a safer and more responsible use of the internet.

The next Safer Internet Day will be observed on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.  Let’s briefly discuss the history of Safer Internet Day and its current activities.

The History of Safer Internet Day

Millions of people join Safer Internet Day events and activities each year organized by SID supporters. It was initiated by the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 by Insafe a European network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs). In 2009, the day was first observed outside Europe.

More than 200 countries celebrate the event worldwide, and over 150 global SID committees are working to make the day successful. The main committee of the SID is based in European Union in Brussels.

Each SID committee consists of leading actors who are involved in the online safety arena like researchers, industry, and NGOs. There are SID committees in most of the country in the world. If your country doesn’t have a SID committee, you can form one by contacting the proper authority.

Previous Versions of Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day has been taking place annually since 2004. Here I’ll talk about several previous editions of SID.

Year of Safer Internet Day Some Key Things
2004, 6 February
  • Observed for the first time
  • SafeBorders project was the brainchild
  •  13 EU countries and Australia celebrated it (a total of 14 countries)
2010, 9 February
  • 65 countries observed it
  • 19,000 people took part in the SID quiz
  • European Commission arranged an event in European Parliament
2015, 10 February
  • 110 countries celebrated it
  • 28 million people were involved in SID events
  • 60 million people were reached by the #SID2015 hashtag
2020, 11 February
  • 170 countries and territories celebrated it
  • Theme was “Together for a better internet”
  • Website visits reached 147,000 users in the month
2021, 9 February
  • 200 countries and territories celebrated it
  • Slogan was “Together for a better internet”
  • Twitter got 2.1 billion impressions

Proposed Activities for Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet DaySID Committee organizes various activities on Safer Internet Day to make the day fruitful and increase its reach across the world. Some of the common activities that they plan for Safer Internet Day are;

  • Awareness campaigns in media using video clips, social media campaigns, songs, posters, and many more
  • Television programs
  • Radio announcement
  • Competition for children
  • Press conference inviting the celebrities who support SID
  • Session on internet safety involving governments, lawmakers, educators, parents, researchers, children, and so on
  • Publication of recent research and results on online safety
  • Visiting schools to make students and teachers aware of internet safety
  • Free resources to be safe online

Note: The activities may vary a bit depending upon the decision of the SID committee in your country.

What Type of Cyber Security Does Safer Internet Day Promote?

Safer Internet Day provides lots of beneficial content to ensure online safety for everyone. Some of the best ways how SID helps us to extend cyber security are;

Educating Others about Online Safety

This annual event comprises different presentations, workshops, or campaigns that educate people about how to stay safe online. These include many of the topics we cover within our own categories on Safe Search Kids.

Encouraging the Use of Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are an essential part of online security. Safer Internet Day will encourage people to use complex passwords and to change them regularly.

Promoting Online Privacy

SID helps to understand the importance of protecting personal information online and encourages everyone to be aware of what they share online.

Encouraging Responsible Social Media Use

Social media is now a widely used platform to connect with others, but it’s important to use it responsibly. Safer Internet Day encourages people to think before they post and to be respectful of others online.

Promoting Cyberbullying Prevention

Cyberbullying can have serious consequences, so it’s important to educate people about how to recognize and prevent it.

Encouraging Responsible Gaming 

Online gaming can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to use it safely, sensibly and to be aware of possible addiction issues.

Conclusion

Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of online safety.

This annual event will help to educate and promote internet safety for all.

 

Make sure you’re prepared for the upcoming Safer Internet Day.

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