Young people tell government what is needed to keep them safe online
Published: 20th February 2020
This blog looks at the Digital Leaders’ involvement in the Young People’s Charter for Safer Internet Day 2020.
In consultation with young people across the UK, the UK Safer Internet Centre produced the Young People’s Charter for Safer Internet Day 2020. The Charter calls upon the government and internet industry to make a more inclusive internet where everyone is #freetobe themselves.
41 Digital Leaders contributed to this charter, alongside other young people across the UK, through an online survey. Our Digital Champions fed into the charter through consultation, helping to shape the charter’s four key points which highlight the demands that young people need government to act upon to keep them safe and free to be themselves online.
Aimee and Cosima, two of the Childnet Digital Champions, were involved in the development of the charter. They then presented the charter to MPs at Westminster and then to industry at the Safer Internet Day event in London.
Take a look at the full charter here for more depth around the four calls to action.
The Young People’s Charter includes:
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Provide good quality education about the internet
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Protect equal rights and opportunities online and offline
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Establish better protection and accountability
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Give us the space and power to create change
The Young People’s Charter launch in parliament on Safer Internet Day 2020
Aimee and Cosima, two of the Digital Champions launched the charter by presenting it to MPs at parliament on Safer Internet Day. They spoke directly to over 25 MPs, explaining the purpose and importance of the clear demands included in the charter. They also explained how the charter was developed by the UK Safer Internet Centre with young people. The charter comes from the young people that the UK Safer Internet Centre spoke to.
Aimee and Cosima then attended the Safer Internet Day event where they presented the charter to guests from the internet industry and asked guests to pledge to play their part to support young people online and to champion the Young People’s Charter.
Photo: Baroness Nicky Morgan,Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, gives her support for the Youth Charter
The Safer Internet Day 2020 research report which influenced and accompanies the Young People’s Charter can be found here.
