Safer Internet Day: young people and adults increasingly connected

Young people (and adults) are increasingly connected but also aware. If on the one hand the pandemic has increased hyperconnection, amplifying the risks of the online world especially for boys and girls, on the other hand the data show that knowledge of the web is, in many respects, more in-depth. But strategies are needed to make it a safer place for young people.

It is the message launched by Telephone Azzurro on the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2022, which has been celebrated every year on February 8th since 2004. A day chosen by the European Commission to stop, analyze and understand more and more what risks the web exposes us to and how, especially the little ones, they can visit it safely.

To talk about it, Telefono Azzurro has organized one 2 days of reflectionbetween Milan (February 7) and Rome (February 8) and in streaming on the Telefono Azzurro website Azzurro.it and which will see the participation of authoritative Italian and international experts, as well as representatives of institutions and companies.

“The great challenge today for us adults is to accompany the youngest in the metaverse: schools, parents, institutions and companies are all called to rethink rules and approaches to the digital world, as an integral part of the educational and socialization process of minors”, explained Ernesto Caffo, president of Telefono Azzurro.

The data collected speak for themselves. During 2021, the Telephone Azzurro Listening and Consulting Center 19696 has handled 192 cases with problems relating to the Internet area, with an average of 16 cases per monthwith a prevalence of cases relating to situations of cyberbullying (28%) e sexting (17%). In more than 2 out of 10 cases, problems related to the mental health, mainly suicidal ideation (28%), fears, anxiety and phobias (26%), self-harm (23%), depression (19%). In 2021, 19696 service helped 211 minors in difficulty: almost one in two (46%) in the 11-14 age group and 38% in the 15-17 age group.

“We must understand this change taking place in order to continue to follow our children and adolescents and that is why it is essential to create moments of in-depth analysis and discussion on the subject, finding concrete answers”, continues Ernesto Caffo. «In addition to online security issues such as privacy protection and hate speech, they will be addressed and discussed during the event emerging issues such as metaverse, gaming, big data and artificial intelligence “.

With the pandemic, the internet has become the means of communication par excellence. The 71 percent of young people surveyed believe they have increased their time online over the past two years (opinion shared by 70% of parents, who in 63% of cases often wonder if the time their children spend online is not excessive). It goes from 2-3 hours a day to get to over 6 hours in front of the screen. Only 24% of the people involved in the Doxa analysis claim to be online for no more than one hour a day.

Calls for help have doubled. In 2021, theThe Childhood Emergency Service 114 promoted by the Department for Family Policies and managed by Telefono Azzurro, came into contact with 320 cases with problems relating to the Internet area, with an average of 26 cases per month (about 1 case per day), more than double the previous year, when there were 132.

There are many initiatives to keep attention on the issue high. Convy Srl, the Benefit Company that created Convy School, an app against bullying and cyberbullying based on military encryption, rekindles the spotlight on the phenomena of online violence and launches a call to action, starting from the need to support not only the victims but also the bullies. “It is increasingly urgent to ensure adequate support for schools, which play a central role in the lives of our children,” he stresses Giovanna Chiesa, CEO of Convy Srl «Convy school wants to contribute to making schools and sports associations become bullies free. This must be done both by making young people aware of the correct management of online platforms, raising their awareness but also providing the means to help them ask for help. It is no longer time to just talk about it but the time has come to act and to help schools to equip themselves with the right tools to understand, intercept and resolve ».

Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you:

–Safer Internet Day, 10 million Italians have suffered digital violations

-What is it (and how to defend yourself) from the scam of spoofing