All Fun & Games? Exploring Responsibility Online This Safer Internet Day 2023

Another year, another Safer Internet Day! From gaming chatrooms and YouTube videos to Facebook groups and Instagram communities, today’s young people are shaping our online spaces. Whether you’re a parent, carer, teacher or policy maker, everyone has a role to play in creating a more respectful world online.

This year, Safer Internet Day 2023 is celebrating the role of children and young people in creating safer, more inclusive digital environments with the theme, All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online. It’ll be celebrated on the 7th of February 2023.

So, what is Safer Internet Day?

What do you want the internet of the future to be like? This #SaferInternetDay – and every day – we want users to be protected, empowered and respected online.

Discover more at https://t.co/4uJi0OixGQ, and learn about the #BIKplus strategy here: https://t.co/RcwNQv14ZS pic.twitter.com/Tjt2yR2D4i

— Safer Internet Day (@safeinternetday) January 27, 2023

What is Safer Internet Day?

Every year, Safer Internet Day seeks to inspire a global conversation about modern technology, the internet and how we can use it responsibly. Run by the UK Safer Internet Centre, thousands of businesses and organisations get involved to promote “the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people”.

Last February, we celebrated the role of young people in creating safer spaces on the internet and the ways in which they are shaping their digital environments. This year’s theme is All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online, and will be celebrated on the 7th of February 2023. This year, we’re challenging children and young people to foster supportive and respectful communities online, as well as equip them with the skills they need to ensure the safety of themselves and others online.

All fun and games?

In this day and age, we are more connected than ever. Online platforms are playing an incredibly important and predominantly positive role by providing young people and children alike with the means to efficiently interact with their friends and connect with people across the world.

This year, Safer Internet Day is highlighting the not-so-positive side of widespread access to the internet – more specifically, the lack of respect some online users can display towards each other as well as the ways in which online groups and cliques can gang up against other groups online. These days, it’s very easy to sit behind a keyboard and hurl abuse at another human being, mainly because it’s seen as not doing any real harm. Online bullying is also very easy to get away with – after all, you’re not saying it to someone’s face right?

This apparent lack of consequences for hateful behaviour is having an impact on the mental wellbeing of our young people and children. That’s why this year, Safer Internet Day is highlighting these patterns of abuse and encouraging our young people and children to take more responsibility, respect one another and foster more positive environments and experiences online. The campaign is also aiming to educate them, and let them know what to do if they encounter hate or bullying online.

Last May, @EU_Commission adopted a new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (#BIKplus) to ensure that every child is protected, empowered and respected online. This #SaferInternetDay, we want to make this a reality. Read more about #BIKplus 👉 https://t.co/RcwNQv14ZS pic.twitter.com/6CMrmA4g1N

— Safer Internet Day (@safeinternetday) January 30, 2023

Celebrating Safer Internet Day 2023 at Priority Pixels

At Priority Pixels, our team of social media experts, SEO strategists, content creators and web developers spend a lot of time on the internet. That’s why we’re passionate believers in Safer Internet Day and its message of responsibility, respect and positivity. Together, we can make the digital world a safer, happier place for our young people and children.

For more information about Safer Internet Day 2023, click here for a full guide packed with resources, training days and exciting events.