On Safer Internet Day, the European Commission will announce if major internet companies have acted on their commitment to improve the safety of under-18s who use social networking sites. An EU-wide campaign to encourage teenagers to "Think before you post" will also be launched.

Safer Internet Day aims at promoting a safer use of the internet, online technologies and mobile phones, and the fight against illegal or harmful content and conduct.

Social networking sites count today 41.7 million users in Europe. It is mostly young people, children and teenagers who register with social networking sites such as Myspace or Facebook , and they use these new creative opportunities to express their identity. However, they do not always realise that the personal information they post such as pictures and videos remains online and can be accessed by anyone, exposing them to risks such as cyber bullying or online grooming. Children and teenagers must be empowered to manage and control their online identity in a responsible way.

The seventh Safer Internet Day will focus on the topic "Think before you post!". A campaign will be launched in more than 60 countries across the world aiming to make young people aware that they can control their online identity by using the privacy settings offered by social networking sites, selecting friends online that they can trust, and publishing photos after thinking carefully about the consequences.

At last year's Safer Internet Day, 18 leading web firms signed a European agreement brokered by the Commission to improve the safety of under-18s who use social networking sites. Two more signatories joined the agreement in 2009. On 9 February, the Commission will publish a report on how these "Safer Social Networking Principles of the EU" have been implemented by the companies.

The background

Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on 9 February 2010 in all EU countries and almost 40 countries around the world.

The INSAFE network  that coordinates the participation of EU and third countries in Safer Internet Day 2010 has been established by the Commission's EU Safer Internet Programme to raise awareness of online uses and risks while addressing children, parents, schools, and media.

With this aim, the European Commission put forward in December 2008 the Safer Internet Programme in order to promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies, especially by children. This Programme will run from 2009 to 2013.