Safer Internet Day 2021

The origin

The Safer Internet Day, since 2008 always on the second day of the second week of the second month, is based on the Safer Internet Programme launched in 1999. In Germany, the campaign day is supported by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection and the Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media and implemented by the Safer Internet DE association.

The campaign is coordinated by klicksafe.de. In addition, nummergegenkummer.de, jugendschutz.net and internet-bwerdestelle.de are involved. The aim of the theme day is to raise awareness and build media skills among teachers, parents and pupils in the long term. Warnings are to be given about dangers on the Internet, and a telephone counselling service on online problems for children and young people is offered. As the largest user group of online and mobile technologies, they should be particularly protected.

The Conference 2021 is themed: "Digital Platforms and Society - How can we foster social participation in digital progress and debate culture online?"

Buzzard

As part of the concept 'Debate Culture on the Net', we would like to introduce the project "Buzzard". The app claims to be impartial, transparent and free of advertising. The goal is to inform users broadly and to support them in breaking out of their own filter bubble. This is to support constructive discourse. The project is accompanied by a journalistic advisory board and has received many awards since it began in 2017 (including Kultur- und Kreativpiloten, Google Digital News Initiative, Media Lab Bayern, Creative Business Cup 2017, VOCER Innovation Lab Fellows 2017).

After the prototype of the platform had to take criticism on the cited media in 2017, the selection process was reconsidered and changed. Now, according to strengthened rules, the 1,800-media source catalogue is used to select what is presented to users as a round-up at the end of the day. These include German-language newspapers, magazines, online magazines, academic publications and blogs, media offerings of the public broadcaster as well as high-reach English-language media in Europe, Africa, Asia, the USA and Latin America.

Buzzard also has a school project that gives pupils and teachers in five federal states free access to the Buzzard app and trains young people in dealing with fake news and conspiracy theories.

Our thoughts

We believe that diversity of opinion and responsible use of it are extremely important in our increasingly fast-paced times. That's why we support the project with the aim of promoting an open communication culture, making journalism more accessible and encouraging young people to acquire and develop media skills.

If you are interested in the topic, have a look at here.