We believe that real change starts with adults listening to children and young people. Too often decisions about their world are made without asking them, even though they know best what is important and meaningful to them.
With Youth Speak, we are giving a voice to young people. This is the space where we gather their stories and their opinions. Because the best solutions come when we hear them first.
What young people say
Digital-media literacy, emotional health, communication skills, knowing how to assert your boundaries – these and many more topics are about knowing how to use technology as a valuable tool, not as a dangerous place over which we have no control.
What do the students think? Are there labels and clichés in the topics of today’s children, devices and the internet? Listen to the opinions of young people themselves.
Labels "They don't read" and "They only look at their phones"
Is it really? Ellie and Nicola talk about these and other common clichés in the 'new normal. The Voice of the Young" on Darik Radio.
Phones in class and social networks
Should phones be answered in class? Are social networks harmful? Listen to the opinion of high school students from three metropolitan schools.
The benefits and harms of social networks
Antonia and Alec on the benefits and harms of social media, the ability to self-control screen time, how they recognize fake news and what they think about online violence.
Online safety campaigns - from GenZ for GenZ
Turn off the screen, turn on life… Bullying is not love… Words have power… Don’t be a troll, be a pro… When you need help, don’t completely trust Artificial Intelligence… How many things have we forgotten to tell ourselves while scrolling…
These messages and more are part of short videos created by youth for youth at the end of online safety training programs in cities across the country. The trainings were conducted by the Bulgarian Family Planning Association and are peer-to-peer. The aim is that after the training and discussions, the young people themselves will become peer mentors on topics related to critical thinking, misinformation, online safety and safe online behaviour.
Check out these short videos based on the stories of students from different cities in Bulgaria – stories about hours of phone scrolling, abusive words in bullying, blackmail with nude photos and the need to not be alone when you have a problem online. The participants are the young people themselves.
Defend. Collect evidence. Report.
The silence of friends sometimes hurts more than the insults. Don't watch from the sidelines, act before it's too late. Prepared by Gen Z: Iliana, Victoria and Laura from Pernik.
Turn off the screen. Turn on life.
Real moments are not shared. They are lived. The screen glows, but life shines brighter. Prepared by Gen Z: Ivanka, Victoria, Nedyalko from Sapareva Banya and Dupnitsa.
Words have power. Don't be a troll, be a pro!
Anna posted a new photo of herself. Mila writes a hater comment. One comment can hurt more than you think. Prepared by Gen Z: Mariah, Victoria, Tony, Borislav from Pleven.
Don't completely trust AI when you need help
Prepared by Gen Z: Kristin, Gabriela, Ioana, Kristian from Stara Zagora
Click, scroll, trap: life behind a screen
The most important conversations are not in the chat! Turn off the online world to feel the world around you! Prepared by.
Bullying is not love
I already have your pictures. If I don't see you tomorrow, I'll circulate them everywhere. Prepared by.
True stories from the Hotline
We created the series “Stories You Need to Hear” based on real cases from the work of the 124 123 Advice Line. They are told by young actors, but the stories are real and safenet.bg has helped children and their parents to resolve the situation.
Extortion photos, a hacked device through an online game and being slandered in a chat group are the three stories of children between 10 and 16 years old. Such online abuse is common on the internet. If youhave an online problem too – contact us.
Participation of children and young people in the work of safenet.bg
All the time, we rely on children and young people to come up with campaigns together, to give their opinions, to create their own solutions, to be helpers and mentors to their friends and peers in using the internet skillfully and safely.
Part of safenet.bg is the Youth Panel – our way to involve young people from 13 to 19 directly in the activities of the Safer Internet Centre. Thus, every year between 10 and 12 boys and girls are part of our team, developing their digital-media skills and playing an important role in our activities.
We involve children and young people in all our initiatives – events, forums, participation in international programmes. Here you will find news and stories about young people’s involvement in our work for a safer online environment.