The Project

Project mission

“The BeSmartOnline! project concerts the efforts of national stakeholders working towards the safer use of the internet by children and youths. The initiative aims at raising awareness and educating minors, carers and educators on the safe use of the internet; establishing, operating and promoting reporting facilities for internet abuse; and supporting respective victims.“

Key project deliverable

• Conduct awareness raising activities comprising of creative information campaigns targeting children, youths, parents, educators and the general public by raising awareness about the safer use of the Internet.  The campaign will be implemented through educational institutions and the mass media.

• A hotline will receive reports  on illegal content from internet users and will also contribute to the European URL database of sites generating illegal activity.  The hotline will form part of Inhope – the international association of internet hotlines.  A helpline will also be set up as a support mechanism to answer online questions and telephone calls from children and parents related to problems encountered during their use of online technologies. These will be operated through the 179 number.

• An Advisory Board, which brings together a wide representation of local entities with a keen interest in online activity, will include NGOs, private companies and public bodies.  The advisory board will discuss matters that are pertinent to the wellbeing of minors on the Internet.

• A Youth Panel representing teens and minors will serve as a voice for young people to sound their opinion as well as to share their ideas on how to create awareness about internet safety.

• The Maltese centre will actively participate in the Insafe European Safer Internet Network.

A more detailed description of the work conducted by the Awareness Centre throughout 2011 may be obtained from the Annual Report 2011 attached below.

Safer Internet Programme

The BeSmartOnline! project is co-financed by the European Union through the Safer Internet Progamme. The project commenced on the 1^st of October 2010.