One can never be too sure when it comes to the World Wide Web and safety is a concern for all parents with kids who frequently use the Internet. This is why the concept of Safer Internet Day, which is today, is of vast importance. The idea of Safer Internet Day started in2004, targeting children and young people who use the Internet a lot more than adults do.

In past years, SID has focused on particular themes for each year, ranging from cyberbullying to social networking. This year the theme is “connecting generations”, which focuses on making the Internet safer for people of all ages – from kids to grandparents.

Safer Internet Day was an initiative by the EU SafeBorders project back in 2004 and now has roughly 70 countries participating in the initiative to make the Internet a safer place for everyone.

Surveys across countries have revealed that 91% of Gen-Y people have admitted to using the Internet in the bathroom as well, allowing communication to happen even in the most private of spaces. With these stats, the need for safer Internet browsing becomes essential, and spread awareness about safe Internet habits is a prime motive behind Safer Internet Days.

But the fact that only 41% people from the so called silent generation have used Internet in the bathroom would make it seem like this generation of people is safer, but turns out that is not always the case.

To promote safe Internet usage, the European Commission started the Safer Internet Programme in 1999, and today with 30 Safer Internet Centers in the Insafe network present in all 27 EU states, the movement towards safer Internet browsing is only growing stronger. These Safer Internet Centers have successful awareness centers complete with a hotline, helpline and youth panel addressing queries of Internet users in these countries.

The theme this year focuses on educating parents about Internet safety as well, so they can protect their kids and answer any question that the latter might have. To participate in Safer Internet Day, log on to saferinternetday.org/web/guest/sid-2012.

Source: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/today_is_safer_internet_day.php