SAVE THE DATE – SAFER INTERNET DAY 2010

The 7th edition of Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on 9 February 2010 in more than 60 countries across the world and this year will focus on the theme Think before you post ("Think B4 U post!").

New technologies have turned all of us, and mostly young people, into publishers of information, pictures, and videos. In addition, we can also manage our online identity in a way which may turn us into "celebrities". While bringing about new opportunities for personal expression and creativity, new technologies may also lead to embarrassing or even traumatic situations. For example, photos, once posted online, remain online and can be seen by anybody, even years after they have been posted. Posting today photos from a fun party may have consequences on the way a potential employer considers a job application years later. Therefore, children and teenagers need to be empowered to manage their online identity in a responsible way, to be in control of their own online identity, and at the same time respect other people's choices of posting or not certain information or photos online.

The 27 national centres in the Insafe network and its partners in almost 40 countries will bring young people and adults together in local, regional, national and online events all around the world to reflect on the publication of images online. A video clip has been created in all official EU languages and more to support this campaign. Watch the clip and find further information about the activities being organised in your country through the Insafe website at http://saferinternetday.org

For further information, please contact:

Belgian Awareness Centre of the Insafe network

Dirk Depover 

+32 476 95 95 04

http://www.clicksafe.be

Further information:

About Insafe

Insafe is the European Safer Internet awareness-raising network co-funded by the European Commission. It comprises national contact centres across the European Union and in Iceland and Norway, with partner organisations in Argentina, Australia and the USA. Insafe aims at empowering users to benefit from the positive aspects of internet whilst avoiding the potential risks. Further information is available at www.saferinternet.org or contact info-insafe@eun.org