For Safer Internet Day 2025, ConnectSafely is hosting an event that brings together students, parents, educators, policymakers, and tech industry leaders to address key internet safety issues and policies. This event is designed to empower youth by ensuring their voices are heard in policy discussions about online safety, digital well-being, and the ethical use of technology.
With a focus on actionable solutions, participants will collaborate in working groups to tackle pressing topics such as school phone policies, media literacy, AI in education, age verification and social media, scams, bullying, and AI regulation. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that young people are not just part of the conversation but active contributors in shaping a better online world.
Topics of Discussion and Resources
Phone “Bans” in Schools
- What is the primary purpose or reason for policies that ban or restrict phones in schools?
- What should school leaders, students, and communities consider before putting restrictions in place?
- How do these policies impact students, teachers, and the school day?
- What role should parents and policymakers play in decisions about school phone bans?
Resources
- Ask Trish: Phone Bans in Schools: This article explores the effectiveness of phone bans, citing a study from Norway that examines the impact of such policies on student outcomes.
- Banning Phones in Schools: Authored by a high school student, this piece discusses the implications of state laws banning cell phones in schools and argues against their effectiveness.
- Mixed Feelings About Bill to Limit Smartphones in School
Age Verification
- What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of age verification tools and parental consent requirements for children and teen users before they can access social media and gaming platforms?
- How might these measures impact marginalized communities and minority individuals?
- What considerations should policymakers take into account when discussing age verification?
Resources
- Instagram Testing Age Verification Technology: This article discusses Instagram’s experiments with age verification methods to ensure appropriate user experiences for different age groups.
- Parent’s Guide to Instagram: This guide emphasizes the importance of accurate age information and details Instagram’s efforts to estimate users’ ages without solely relying on self-reported data.
AI Use in Schools
- How should students and teachers use generative AI in schools?
- What skills should be taught to help students use generative AI effectively?
- What are the ethical, privacy, and safety concerns regarding AI use in educational settings?
Resources
- Privacy and Ethics in the Age of AI Transcript: A discussion with Future of Privacy Forum’s Shea Swagger on the ethical and privacy issues surrounding AI in education.
- Academic Integrity and Teaching With(out) AI (Harvard)
- Parent and Teen Guide to Generative AI This guide provides an overview of generative AI, its benefits and risks, and practical tips for parents to help their children use AI responsibly and safely.
- AI Has Risks But Can Also Make Us Safer This post explores how AI, while posing certain risks, can also enhance safety by improving cybersecurity, detecting harmful content, and assisting in emergency responses.
AI Regulation
- Should the federal or state governments regulate how AI is developed in the future and if so, in what ways?
- Should considerations like creating content for scams, equity, bias, and accuracy of output be considerations in government regulation?
Resources
- Biden Executive Order on AI
- Trump Executive Order Rescinding Biden Order
- Oxford University Panel Discusses AI Regulation
Civility/bullying
- What is the role of youth, schools, parents, or law enforcement in holding users responsible for bullying and harassment online?
- What is their role for supporting and protecting individuals who have been harmed by online bullying and harassment?
Resources
- Parent’s Guide to Cyberbullying: This comprehensive guide defines cyberbullying, examines its impact, and provides strategies for prevention and response.
- Prevention Best Practices (Online Child Exploitation Prevention Initiative)
Scams, Media Literacy & Critical Thinking
- What is our responsibility to verify information before sharing it?
- What is our responsibility to verify information we use to help us make decisions or with discussion with others?
- Who should be doing the verifying? How do we protect ourselves and others from scams?
- How, and from where, should youth and adults learn verification skills?
Resources
- Parent’s & Educator’s Guide to Media Literacy & False Information: This guide underscores the importance of critical thinking when consuming media and provides tools to distinguish between factual and false information.
- Quick-Guide to Misinformation & Media Literacy: This quick guide highlights the necessity of media literacy in the digital age and offers strategies to identify and counter misinformation.
- Parent and Teen Guide to Teen Sextortion Scams This guide explains what sextortion is, how criminals exploit victims online, and provides practical advice for prevention, response, and support for those affected.
Free Speech
- How do we balance the right to free speech with protecting users from false or harmful information in online spaces?
- What are the responsibilities of the companies that hold these online spaces?
- What are the responsibilities of the users who engage and participate in these online spaces?
Resources
- Parent’s and Educator’s Guide to Combatting Hate Speech: This guide discusses the challenges of addressing hate speech online while respecting free speech rights and provides recommendations for educators and parents.
- Protecting Children Online Needs to Allow for Their Right to Free Speech: This article explores the balance between implementing online safety measures for children and upholding their rights to free expression.
- Hate Speech Versus Freedom of Speech (UN)
- Is Hate Speech Legal? (FIRE)