Recruiting a youth panel
Local organisers are responsible for recruiting a youth panel. One way of recruiting that has proved successful, is not only to look for students from one specific school, but also to use other channels, for example youth recreation centres. When the girls and boys are picked, we also recommend that the recruiters find out what kind of online habits the prospective members keep, in order to represent a variety of different online activities. The typical panel consists of 5-6 girls and boys aged 13-18.

The youth panel in action
The discussion with the youth panel is led by a professional moderator and addresses positive as well as negative aspects of the everyday life of children on the internet. The moderator examines what they usually do on the internet, what they like and dislike about the web, and how and where they socialise with their friends online. We have noticed that sometimes it is easier for them to talk about their friends’ online habits and what people in general do. For the same reason, panel members are not expected to give or show any private information, for example their profile page on a community. The issues raised are usually about an array of subjects such as chatting, visiting communities, doing homework, playing online games, cyber-bullying and grooming.

The panel members are asked to stay at the seminar for the best part of the day. It is especially important that they are present in the morning when the moderator arrives so that they get an opportunity to prepare and get acquainted before the seminar.

Some of the local organisations put together a side event during the breaks in the programme, when the youth panel members sit by computers showing the seminar participants what they do and where they go online. This also proves to be a good opportunity for them to answer any additional questions.

The youth panel is usually the most appreciated part of the programme at the seminars. Their participation often attracts the local media.

Other ways of engaging youths
The Swedish Media Council uses reference classes from all over the country, that are contacted through their teachers. We are currently working on getting a more permanent group of teenagers connected directly to us for the purpose of consultation of new trends, feedback on new information and material etc.

On Safer Internet Day 2008 we launched a national campaign encouraging young people to share their lives and views of the internet by producing short digital stories. This project will supply us not only with a new network and valuable information – but also films that can be used to start discussions between children, young people and adults about growing up and living online.