Safer Internet Day – Tuesday 9 February 2021

This year’s theme for Safer Internet Day 2021 is #AnInternetWeTrust – exploring reliability in the online world and how young people can separate fact from fiction.

The campaign is led by the UK Safer Internet Centre and focuses on knowing what to trust online, and supporting young people to question, challenge and change the online world.

Locally, Safer Internet Day 2021 is supported by the Shetland Public Protection Committee, which organises events throughout the year, including internet safety sessions and youth conferences in Shetland schools, as well as Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) training.  In 2020, these sessions took place virtually for parents and pupils, due to coronavirus restrictions.

Tam Baillie, Chair of Shetland Public Protection Committee, says: 

"The place of social media in everyone's lives has intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic.  This is especially so for young people, with less social contact than normal as a result of the restrictions that have been in place.  Everything online isn't always what it seems and fake news, paid advertising, filtered images and misinformation can make it hard to trust what you read.

"The theme of Safer Internet Day 2021 is about taking steps to help you fact-check information online. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is – but checking the source, getting a second opinion, and trying to understand why someone has posted information are a good start.”

Educational resources for Safer Internet Day 2021 are available for parents, carers and professionals working with children and young people of different ages.

What to trust online - A parents and carers guide (PDF 1.5Mb)

Notes for editors

  • Safer Internet Day is co-ordinated in the UK by the Safer Internet Centre to promote the safe, responsible and creative use of online technology for children and young people.  It is celebrated globally in over a hundred countries. www.saferinternet.org.uk
  • Anyone who would like further information or training on safe use of the internet and social media should contact Dawn Smith at the Shetland Public Protection Team on 01595 744411 or email dawn.smith@shetland.gov.uk.

Published: 8th February 2021