Today, 11^th February 2020, we celebrate Safer Internet Day (SID) – the annual flagship campaign under the European Strategy for Better Internet for Children.

On Thursday, 21 November 2019, the Safer Internet Forum (SIF) will take place in Brussels Belgium. With a theme of "From online violence to digital respect", it will also celebrate 20 years of safer/better internet funding by the European Commission.

In a world that is increasingly dependent on technology and the internet, it comes as no surprise that social media is practically omnipresent in young people's lives. More often than not it is the negative effects of social media that we hear about, while the positives are frequently overlooked. Social media can contribute massively to children and young people's education, preparing them to become active and well-informed individuals, and providing them with opportunities to learn, develop, interact and find emotional support.

It's not always easy to be a teacher nowadays – increasingly complex and overloaded curricula, new subjects, ever limited time and a generational gap with students. Now factor in also the evolving technological landscape and it's easy to understand why some teachers and educational professionals feel ill-prepared to support their pupils and students when it comes to their online lives and to ensuring their eSafety.