In an era where children and young people are growing up surrounded by digital technologies, online safety is becoming one of the key social issues. That is precisely why Safer Internet Day is celebrated in Croatia this year, on the second Tuesday of February. It is a global initiative that brings together over 180 countries worldwide with the aim of creating a safer, more responsible, and better digital environment for everyone.
On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, a conference „Together for a Better Internet“ will be held in Zagreb on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, organized by the Croatian Regulatory Agency for Network Activities (HAKOM), the Center for Safer Internet, and CARNET's National CERT.
The conference will gather experts from the fields of education, psychology, cybersecurity, and media, representatives of institutions, teachers and parents, as well as students themselves, because children today are not just passive internet users who need protection, but active participants in the digital space who have a voice in shaping it and whom we want to involve in the activities HAKOM conducts. With the aim of promoting the protection of vulnerable groups users of electronic communications services, such as children, establishoWe established a consultative mechanism for child protection in the digital environment, involving representatives of associations, competent state bodies, and operators. HAKOM is the coordinator for digital services and the implementation of the Digital Services Act in Croatia, said Miran Gosta, Director of HAKOM.
Topics to be discussed at this year's conference include cyberbullying prevention, children's personal data protection, online sexual violence, cybertrauma, the use of artificial intelligence among children, as well as the availability of quality, age-appropriate, and safe internet content.
– CARNET's National CERT daily monitors and analyzes cyber threats that also affect the digital environment of children and youth, such as cyberbullying, personal data theft, and content manipulation. In a time when artificial intelligence is becoming a part of children's daily lives, it is essential to strengthen their digital literacy and empower parents and educators in order to create a safer digital space for every child – added Miro Đuzel, CARNET's Assistant Director for the National CERT.
Through continuous work throughout the year, the Safe Internet Centre focuses on the safety of children and young people in the digital environment through national campaigns, educational programs, conferences, lectures for children, parents, and educational staff, as well as through daily provision of expert support for those facing online risks. Precisely for this reason, the conference „Together for a Better Internet“ opens a space for discussion about responsible digital behavior, the role of parents and the education system, as well as the necessity of coordinated and long-term institutional support for children in the online environment.
– Children today are growing up in a digital world that offers them huge opportunities, but also serious risks. It is our responsibility to support them, not only through warnings, but primarily through knowledge, understanding, and concrete tools for safe online behavior. A safer internet is not built in a single day of the year, but through daily work, cooperation with children and youth, and also with all segments of society – emphasized Tomislav Ramljak, head of the Center for a Safer Internet.
One of the more powerful elements of the conference will be the opening discussion, moderated by a student, where representatives from institutions will answer questions about how they envision a better and safer internet for everyone. A panel discussion is also planned, in which students will participate and influencer, which further emphasizes the importance of involving young people in the public dialogue on digital security.
On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, a new HAKOM brochure titled „Click, but Be Careful,“ intended for children and their parents with practical tips for safer internet use, will be distributed to fifth-grade students in elementary schools across Croatia. The brochure will also be available in digital format.
Conference „”Together for a Better Internet" aims to foster stronger connections between institutions, experts, parents, and young people, and to send a joint message that children's online safety is a shared responsibility.
As in previous years, the conference will also be available to watch online, and the link to watch it, along with the conference program, will be published shortly before the event.
