Celebrating Safer Internet Day 2025

This year, we marked Safer Internet Day at Ivan Meštrović High School in Drniš through a series of activities. The program began with workshops titled “Love or Not?”, using materials from the 2025 Safer Internet Center, conducted by the school’s senior students. Research presented at the workshop confirms that an increasing number of children and young people are using digital devices and spending time on social media and messaging apps. This increases the risk of exposure to sexting and explicit content. According to the Safer Internet Center data, 22% of children aged 12 to 16 have received at least one message of a sexual nature, while 6% have sent such a message. The most common platforms for these activities are Snapchat and Instagram, although no social network is completely exempt. The objectives of this workshop among young people were: raising awareness about online safety, developing critical thinking, and improving communication skills. Through the workshop, students learned to recognize the difference between sexting and sextortion, became aware of potential risks and consequences, and acquired tools for setting personal boundaries and seeking help in uncomfortable situations. Student reactions were extremely positive! Senior students actively participated in discussions, and at the end, they completed a survey about the topics covered in the workshop. First-year economics students created promotional flyers for Safer Internet Day using the Canva tool. The flyers contain key information about internet safety, and students used the official campaign mascot Ally from the Better Internet for Kids website, respecting copyright and digital ethics rules. Additionally, a workshop was conducted among first, second, and fourth-year students on recognizing phishing scams, encouraging critical thinking about online safety. Classes discussed student rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including: The right to access information, The right to correct inaccurate data, and The right to report data misuse to competent institutions (AZOP). The importance of using strong passwords and responsible behavior on the internet was also emphasized. Students carried out all activities under the mentorship of teacher Martina Jerković and demonstrated how responsible use of the internet and digital technologies can contribute to a safer online environment for all of us!