Safer Internet Day 2026 in Malta: Putting Wellbeing at the Centre

Safer Internet Day (SID) 2026 will once again bring together schools, families, professionals, and the wider community across Malta to reflect on how every one of us can create a safer, more supportive, and more respectful digital environment for everyone. This year, our focus goes beyond online safety, placing strong emphasis on the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. 

To mark Safer Internet Day 2026, we will be delivering a range of activities and outreach initiatives designed to reach children, young people, educators, parents, and the general public in meaningful and practical ways.

Supporting Wellbeing Through Practical Resources 

As part of SID 2026, we will be launching a dedicated set of wellbeing-focused articles within our online toolkit. These articles will be published gradually throughout February and will focus on practical and relatable aspects of young people’s digital lives, including reflecting on personal technology use, recognising and managing mindless scrolling, building online confidence beyond likes and validation, developing healthier digital habits, and understanding the impact of screen use on sleep and overall wellbeing. The aim is to provide accessible, evidence-informed content that can support parents, educators, and young people throughout the year, not only on Safer Internet Day itself. 

In addition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section will be introduced to provide in-depth, practical guidance for parents and caregivers on some of the most challenging aspects of children’s online lives. The FAQs address topics such as cyberbullying, sexting, online grooming, social media use, first phones, healthy digital breaks, privacy-respecting communication with children, and helping young people critically evaluate online information. Alongside clear advice, the section highlights Maltese legal frameworks where relevant and outlines when and how families can seek further support, ensuring parents and schools have reliable, locally relevant information they can turn to when concerns arise. 

Community Outreach and Public Engagement 

Public outreach remains a key part of our Safer Internet Day activities. In 2026, we will be organising an outreach day in Valletta on the 10^th February, engaging directly with members of the public through face-to-face discussions, information sharing, and awareness-raising activities. This outreach aims to make conversations about online wellbeing more visible, approachable, and relevant to everyday life. 

We will also continue our outreach within schools across Malta, delivering age-appropriate sessions for students while supporting educators with practical guidance and resources. In addition to our usual classroom-based sessions, we have also been invited to deliver school assemblies, allowing us to reach wider groups of students with key messages around online safety and digital wellbeing. These sessions aim to empower children and young people to navigate the online world safely, respectfully, and with confidence, while also addressing the emotional and social aspects of online life. 

Youth Voices at the Centre 

Young people will play an active role in shaping SID 2026. Our youth panel will be working on the creation of a series of short videos that reflect young people’s own experiences, concerns, and perspectives on digital life. These videos will be shared with all schools across Malta as part of Safer Internet Day activities and, following SID, will be made publicly available on our YouTube channel. This approach ensures that youth voices remain central to discussions around online safety and wellbeing, both within educational settings and beyond. 

Media Engagement and Awareness 

To reach a wider audience, SID 2026 will be supported through television and radio programmes, allowing key messages around digital wellbeing, online safety, and responsible technology use to reach families across Malta. These media appearances will provide opportunities to discuss current digital challenges, emerging trends, and practical ways to support children and young people online. 

In response to growing interest and concern around artificial intelligence, we will also be producing a short video focused on AI. This video introduces what AI is and encourages children and young people to think critically about what they see online, highlighting that online content may not always be accurate or trustworthy. The aim is to support critical thinking and responsible digital behaviour, particularly in an evolving online environment shaped by new technologies.

Supporting Schools to Celebrate Safer Internet Day 

To ensure that schools are fully supported in celebrating Safer Internet Day, an information email has been sent to all schools across Malta, encouraging participation and sharing available resources. Alongside this, structured lesson plans will be provided to help educators integrate Safer Internet Day themes into their classroom activities in a practical and engaging way. 

A Collective Effort for a Safer, Healthier Digital Space 

Safer Internet Day 2026 is a collective effort that brings together communities, schools, families, professionals, and young people. Through education, outreach, youth participation, and open conversation, we aim to promote a digital environment that supports not only safety, but also emotional wellbeing, respect, and inclusion. 

By working together, we can help ensure that the online world remains a space where everyone can learn, connect, and thrive safely.