Safer Internet Day 2026: Together for a Better and Safer Internet for Children and Young People

ZAGREB, 21 January 2026 - As children and young people grow up surrounded by digital technologies, online safety is becoming one of the most important social issues. For this reason, Safer Internet Day will once again be observed in Croatia this year on the second Tuesday of February. This global initiative brings together more than 180 countries with the aim of creating a safer, more responsible, and higher-quality digital environment for all.
 
On Tuesday, 10 February 2026, the conference “Together for a Better Internet” will be held in Zagreb. The event is organised by the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM), the Safer Internet Centre, and CARNET’s National CERT.
 
The conference will bring together experts in education, psychology, cybersecurity, and media, alongside representatives of institutions, teachers, parents, and pupils. Today’s children are not merely passive internet users in need of protection; they are active participants in the digital space with the right to shape it. HAKOM aims to involve them in its activities.
 
To promote the protection of vulnerable users of electronic communications services—particularly children—HAKOM has established an Advisory Mechanism for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, which includes representatives from civil society organisations, competent public authorities, and service providers.
 
“HAKOM serves as the national coordinator in Croatia for digital services and the implementation of the Digital Services Act,” said Miran Gosta, Director at HAKOM.



Topics to be addressed at this year’s conference include the prevention of online harassment, the protection of children’s personal data, online sexual abuse, cyber trauma, the use of artificial intelligence by children, and the availability of high-quality, age-appropriate, and safe online content.
 
CARNET’s National CERT monitors and analyses cyber threats on a daily basis, including those affecting the digital environment of children and young people, such as online harassment, identity theft, and content manipulation. “At a time when artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of children’s everyday lives, it is essential to strengthen their digital literacy and to empower parents and educators, in order to create a safer digital space for every child,” added Miro Đuzel, Assistant Director of CARNET’s National CERT.
 
Through its year-round work, the Safer Internet Centre places a strong emphasis on the safety of children and young people in the digital environment, through national campaigns, educational programmes, conferences, and lectures for children, parents, and educators, as well as through the daily provision of expert support to those facing online risks. For this reason, the “Together for a Better Internet” conference provides a space to discuss responsible digital behaviour, the role of parents and the education system, and the necessity of coordinated, long-term institutional support for children online.
 
“Children today are growing up in a digital world that offers enormous opportunities, but also significant risks. It is our responsibility to support them—not merely through warnings, but primarily through knowledge, understanding, and practical tools for safe online behaviour. A safer internet is not created in a single day each year, but through daily efforts, collaboration with children and young people, and engagement with all sectors of society,” emphasised Tomislav Ramljak, Head of the Centre for Missing and Abused Children and the Safer Internet Centre.
 
One of the highlights of the conference will be an opening discussion, moderated by a pupil, in which institutional representatives will respond to questions on how they envision a better and safer internet for everyone. A panel discussion featuring both pupils and influencers is also planned, further emphasising the importance of involving young people in the public discourse on digital safety.
 
On Safer Internet Day, a new HAKOM brochure, “Check carefully before you click”, will be distributed to fifth-grade pupils in primary schools across Croatia. Aimed at both children and their parents, the brochure provides practical guidance for safer internet use and will also be available in digital format.
 
The “Together for a Better Internet” conference seeks to strengthen collaboration between institutions, experts, parents, and young people, while conveying a unified message that online safety for children is a shared responsibility.
 
As in previous years, the conference will be accessible online, with the access link and programme to be published shortly.