Sadly, the Internet also includes adult content that has, until now, been difficult to block. The confrontation with some of this content, however, may leave children and youngsters with traumatic experiences. Or it may impair their emotional, moral or social development or instigate them to commit life threatening activities.

How to shield minors from bad content?
There’s good news: the European Commission has launched the Safer Internet Programme. It aims to promote a safer internet by offering solutions that shield minors from this type of content. One of the projects studies the usefulness of tools that can be installed at home or at school and that filter bad content.

 

How can you help?
You can help by trying out some of the tools at home or at school. We only ask you to install the software product we provide and use it for a couple of weeks and to answer a few questions afterwards about your experience with the product. This process is repeated for three different products. And that's it!

Anyone who participates in this study will receive legitimate versions of the products they need to test. The products can be used free of charge for personal use after the test period. You agree not to distribute or sell the products and to be bound by the terms and conditions stipulated by the respective vendors.

Who can take part?
We’re looking for parents willing to try the software at home and public places, such as schools and public libraries, where the software can be tested on a public computer or server.

Don’t worry if you are no computer expert: the tools are supposed to be installed by parents and schoolteachers throughout Europe. We are currently enrolling participants in Sweden, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the UK, Poland and Hungary.

How do you enrol?
You can find more information on the Safer Internet Benchmarking project on the website www.sip-bench.eu. You can subscribe on the subscription page.

As a parent or educator, you have a desire to act for the wellbeing of your children. Now is your chance to really make a difference.