Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day takes place on the second Tuesday in February each year to promote safer and better web use, especially for children and young people. Coordinated by the Insafe and INHOPE networks with support from the European Commission, this annual event unites people in over 180 countries to address online safety, privacy, and digital well-being.
Key facts
- Date
- Second Tuesday in February — 10 February 2026
- First Observed
- 2004 via EU SafeBorders project
- Coordination
- Insafe and INHOPE networks
- Scope
- International observance in over 180 countries
- Target Audience
- Children, parents, teachers, and internet users
What is Safer Internet Day?
Safer Internet Day is a global effort to make the online world better and safer for everyone. The internet offers great ways to learn, work, and stay in touch with friends. However, it also brings real risks. Online bullying, scams, and privacy threats can affect people of all ages.
The event brings together schools, families, tech groups, and local leaders to talk about digital safety. It encourages good online habits while giving parents and teachers simple tools to protect young people. These tools help children stay safe across popular web sites, apps, and games.
The day focuses on the good sides of tech rather than just digital dangers. It shows how polite talk, smart security, and respect create a safer web space for all. Building a better internet is a shared effort that needs help from every web user.
Digital Hygiene Checklist for Families
- ✓Set strong and unique passwords for every online account
- ✓Turn on two-step verification on social media apps
- ✓Check privacy settings on gaming and social platforms
- ✓Keep apps and web browsers updated to latest versions
- ✓Talk with children about keeping personal details private
- ✓Report suspicious messages or online harassment immediately
When is Safer Internet Day observed?
Safer Internet Day takes place every year on the second Tuesday of February. In 2026, the global event falls on Tuesday, 10 February. Because the event follows a floating rule, the exact date changes each year while staying anchored in the second week of February.
A floating date helps schools and local groups plan safety events well in advance. Many schools run safety talks through the whole week. This gives students plenty of time to learn basic web safety skills and smart online habits for daily life.
Organizers in different countries release safety guides on this same key date. This shared timing helps safety advice, policy news, and family tips reach millions of web users at once across the globe.
How Safer Internet Day began
Safer Internet Day began in 2004 as part of the EU SafeBorders project. It was funded under the European Commission Safer Internet Action Plan and Safer Internet Plus Programme. The plan aimed to build a joint setup for online safety and child protection across European nations.
In 2005, the Insafe network took over running the event. Insafe is a European network of Safer Internet Centres co-funded by the European Union. Working with the INHOPE network of helpline groups, Insafe grew the safety day far past its original European borders.
From its small start in 2004, the event grew into a large global movement. Today, safety teams in over 180 countries lead annual school talks, public events, and web safety campaigns every year.
Why online safety awareness matters
Children and teens spend hours online every day using social apps, video sites, and online games. Sites like Instagram and Facebook help young people chat with friends and share creative ideas. However, they also bring potential web risks that require care.
Common online risks include bad comments, unwanted messages, fake links, and privacy leaks. Without clear guidance, young web users may share private details by mistake. They can also fall for online scams designed to trick people.
Talks between adults and children help lower these web risks greatly. When parents and teachers talk about safety openly, young people feel safe reporting bad messages, online bullying, or scary events to adults they trust.
How people take part around the world
People around the world mark the day with simple learning events for all age groups. Primary schools run web safety talks, while youth clubs teach online respect. Local libraries also help older adults use the internet safely and with ease.
Tech companies and safety groups launch new safety tools, privacy controls, and family guides on the day. Experts share easy tips on news sites and social channels to help families boost their digital safety habits at home.
Anyone can join in by checking their own privacy settings and helping friends online. Easy steps like updating passwords, fixing app settings, and turning on login checks make a big difference for everyone on the web.
Safer Internet Day Dates
This year Safer Internet Day is celebrated on Thursday, Jan 01, 1970
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Jan 01 | Thursday |
| 1970 | Jan 01 | Thursday |
| 1970 | Jan 01 | Thursday |
| 1970 | Jan 01 | Thursday |
| 1970 | Jan 01 | Thursday |
| 1970 | Jan 01 | Thursday |
How to mark Safer Internet Day
You can take easy and practical steps today to make your online experience safer and protect your family.
Check your account privacy settings
Take ten minutes to check privacy settings on your social apps and games. Make sure only trusted friends can view your posts, photos, and personal details online.
Turn on two-step verifications
Add extra safety to your email and social accounts by turning on two-step verifications. This stops unknown users from logging in even if they guess your password.
Talk with kids about online safety
Start a friendly talk with your children about their favorite apps and games. Ask about their web time and set simple rules for sharing personal info safely.
Use strong passphrases for accounts
Swap short passwords for long passphrases made of several plain words. Using a password manager helps you save complex passphrases safely without needing to remember them all.
Learn to spot fake online links
Teach family members how to spot fake emails, scam links, and strange file requests. Remind them never to type passwords or card details after clicking an unknown link.
Report bad comments and abuse
Show young web users how to block mean accounts and use report buttons on social sites whenever they see online bullying or get unwanted messages from strangers.
Common questions
When is Safer Internet Day observed each year?
Safer Internet Day takes place on the second Tuesday of February. In 2026, the event falls on Tuesday, 10 February. Because it uses a floating date, schools and groups plan their events around this second Tuesday each year.
Who created Safer Internet Day?
The event started in 2004 as part of the EU SafeBorders project under the European Commission. The Insafe network took over global planning in 2005, working with the INHOPE network of helplines to grow the event worldwide.
Is Safer Internet Day a public holiday?
No, Safer Internet Day is an awareness day and not a public holiday. Schools, shops, and offices stay open as usual while running safety talks and learning events for students, workers, and families throughout the day.
Why is online safety important for children?
Young people spend lots of time online for school and fun, which can expose them to online bullying, scams, and privacy risks. Learning web safety helps kids build good habits and use the internet with confidence.
How can parents help kids stay safe online?
Parents can help by keeping open talks, setting clear screen rules, and checking app settings together. Talking about web time often ensures children feel safe coming to parents when they see bad things online.
More days worth marking
- 1 Feb
National Serpent Day takes place every year on February 1. The day encourages people to set…
- 2 Feb
Groundhog Day takes place every year on February 2 in the United States and Canada. North…
- 3 Feb
National Golden Retriever Day falls on February 3rd every year. Founded in 2012 by Kristen Shroyer…
- 4 Feb
World Cancer Day takes place every year on 4 February to raise global awareness about cancer…
