Safety risks exist wherever we are – at school or home, in the shopping centre, in the playground, or on the internet. They are, however, increased in the online environment by the fact that we can't usually see who we are communicating with and probably don't know who provided the data we are accessing. To compensate for this we all need to develop our online safety skills and know how to get the best out of the internet, avoiding the pitfalls.

Safer Internet Day takes place each year in February to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people.

A variety of events and iniatives took place throughout Europe on 10 February designed to help children and young people understand the risks online and take steps to protect themselves.

Take a look at these factsheets for more about internet safety:

• Privacy and security on the internet
• Cyberbullying and online safety: resources for teachers
• Advice for teachers: dealing with cyberbullying
• Facebook – privacy settings
• Safety when meeting people on the internet