Agenda

The virtual space has become a second world in which we operate. This brings many new opportunities and chances, as well as threats. This risk particularly affects children, who often explore the Internet on their own. We adults have limited knowledge of the dangers that can be associated with internet access. The Internet is constantly changing, presenting us with new challenges and uncertainties.

There is growing concern that modern technology, including PCs, smartphones, and social media, may be detrimental to children and adolescents' learning and well-being. But what does the research say? Since the mid-2000s, screen time—especially social media use—has increased, coinciding with a decline in adolescents' mental health, which is now a leading cause of illness among adolescents. On the other hand, digital technology offers opportunities to innovate teaching. For instance, specific software can tailor instruction to individual students' needs, boosting motivation. Should we be worried, or should we embrace and integrate modern technology into classrooms? Can regulators and schools mitigate the negative effects while sill harnessing the potential benefits?

The complex relationships between family dynamics and the development of behavioral addictions such as Internet addiction, computer gaming addiction, or phone addiction will be explored in depth. The lecture will discuss key elements of the family system, including communication, roles, behavioural patterns, and emotional influence. Mechanisms through which family functioning issues can contribute to the development of behavioural addictions will also be presented, as well as how these addictions impact the family. Participants will learn about effective intervention strategies and support in treating addictions, considering both the individual needs of the addicted person and the family as a whole. The lecture aims to raise awareness and provide practical knowledge that can help prevent and manage behavioural addictions within the family context.

The lecture will focus on the challenge of building authority through connection, as well as on giving constructive feedback, setting empathetic boundaries, and supporting young people in navigating the communication challenges of the digital world. Practical tools for resolving difficult communication situations in relationships with students, parents, and teachers will be discussed.

It is evident that media education is necessary, and many different entities are undertaking actions in this area. However, it seems that we do not reflect enough on situations where media education is poorly conducted, leading to a lack of results or even negative (harmful) effects. In this lecture, we will systematically analyze various aspects of media education that are worth examining in this context.

In the face of the growing presence of technology in everyday life, Polish schools are challenged with finding the right solution regarding students' use of smartphones. Many studies highlight the educational benefits these devices can bring, but just as many underscore the risks, such as distraction, cyberbullying, and addiction. An important aspect of the debate will be discussing whether these issues should be regulated by the state. Many countries are introducing such regulations, but there are also opinions that this approach may not be appropriate. The debate will bring together specialists from various fields – education, psychology, sociology – to jointly consider the best practices and policies that can be implemented in Polish schools. An essential element of the discussion will be the voice of the youth, who will share their experiences and expectations.

Building a school community where all students can feel safe, comfortable, and have a sense of membership requires systematic actions and commitment. At the same time, the school environment is a space where young people learn to function among individuals different from themselves, build relationships and understanding regardless of differences, and learn to take responsibility for the communities they co-create. Since 2021, the Empowering Children Foundation has been running the campaign "LGBT+me," which addresses the challenging experiences of LGBT+ teenagers: 7 out of 10 of them experience homophobic and transphobic violence. During the meeting, a 15-minute feature film, which is part of the latest phase of the campaign dedicated to LGBT+ youth and peer allyship, will be presented.

For over twenty years, the Empowering Children Foundation has been dedicated to online child safety, adapting its educational proposals and guidelines to the changing world. This presentation will provide arguments for the necessity of safeguarding a child's digital well-being from the very beginning of their life (and even earlier). It will also discuss recommendations and solutions for maintaining a child's well-being in the subsequent years, up to early school age. Based on research and experiences working with children, Łukasz Wojtasik will explain why the first decade of a child's life is crucial for their online safety – both in terms of immediate digital experiences and their long-term effects, influencing further childhood years and even adult life.

Testing boundaries and questioning norms is in the nature of teenagers. And the internet has given them entirely new possibilities in this regard. Kids usually don't ask themselves questions like: Can real crimes be committed in the virtual world? Is deceiving a scammer wrong? Where is the line between a joke and violence? Let’s shift our focus from the victims for a moment and take a closer look at what (some) kids are doing online.

In the era of rapidly developing modern technologies, discussions often center around the risks associated with their use. This presentation will focus on three key elements that promote safe and constructive use of the internet. It will explore the introduction of positive narratives as an effective alternative to hate speech and online harassment. Various aspects of sharing personal passions and interests will be highlighted. Finally, we will examine the concept of artificial intelligence as a "second teacher" in the classroom, analyzing both its potential risks and benefits.

While we look to inform and educate everybody about online safety we need to take a careful look at vulnerable groups. What they are, how they behave, who falls in to them and how have we adapted our resources, tools and information to help guide the most vulnerable amongts us to better and safer internet.

This presentation will focus on the analysis of bullying and cyberbullying in the school setting. Taking a holistic view, I will discuss the causes and consequences of these phenomena, including their impact on students’ mental and physical health. Using the example of bullying in a specific secondary school, we will look at the phenomenon from the point of view of all parties involved: students, teachers and parents.

Digital sexual violence is a rising phenomenon among young people. This Belgian study discusses a specific variant of digital sexual violence, namely deepnudes. Deepnudes are defined as realistic but completely fake images or videos of another person, using artificial intelligence. The study examines to what extent young people in Belgium between the ages of 15 and 25 (N=2819) are aware of deepnudes, and how prevalent these images are.

In an era where social media is a ubiquitous part of our lives, the issue of posting children's photos online raises many controversies and questions. Parents and institutions such as schools and kindergartens often post pictures of children online, not always aware of the potential consequences. The debate will bring together experts from various fields – law, psychology, technology, education, and ethics – to discuss where the boundary should be drawn when it comes to publishing a child's image online. An important aspect of the discussion will be the voice of the youth, who will share their experiences and expectations regarding adults' handling of their images.

[Webinar conducted in polish] The webinar is primarily aimed at teachers. It will be an interactive lecture where the principles of building authority based on connection will be presented, along with practical tools for setting empathetic boundaries, providing feedback, and supporting students through emotionally challenging situations.

[Webinar conducted in polish] Young children are increasingly using the internet, making basic safety principles insufficient for effective prevention. This webinar will cover key threats, such as internet overuse, access to social media, cyberbullying, and online grooming. It will introduce the Sieciaki educational project, run by the Empowering Children Foundation for 20 years, offering comprehensive educational tools for schools. Participants will learn practical methods and materials to help teachers effectively foster safe online habits among students.

[Webinar conducted in polish] You will learn how to talk to students about disinformation and what it has in common with orange juice. You will discover how to use critical thinking to avoid being deceived on social media. We will explain why influencers are not inherently bad, even though they are not always right. We will also present proven methods to combat harmful content online.

[Webinar conducted in polish] Social media are an integral part of teenagers' lives. The scale of this phenomenon can be better understood by looking at the data—on average, teenagers spend more than 4 hours a day on social media, 16% of them report that they can't go longer than an hour without it, and over 43% use social media to feel better (NASK, Teenagers 3.0, 2023). At the same time, an increasing number of studies point to the negative impact of social media on the mental health of teenagers. How can we support young people in using social media mindfully? What tools can help them protect themselves from the negative effects of social media? What can be done to ensure that young people control new technologies, rather than being controlled by them?

[Webinar conducted in polish] What is digital resilience and how to use digital media more consciously? What is “screentime” or “digital balance” used for? How do we prevent the overuse of screen devices and the internet? We will look for answers to these and other questions when we meet with experts to support children and young people in developing good habits and well-being in the digital space.

[Webinar conducted in polish] During the session, we will explore how children and adolescents understand the digital reality. We will examine how developmental needs – both relational and cognitive – affect their online activities, and where there is space for a caring, involved adult. We will attempt to answer the question of how digital hygiene and knowledge of trends can be beneficial. Additionally, we will discuss how to communicate effectively when we want to be part of our children’s and young people’s online activities.

[Webinar conducted in polish] What makes some children less susceptible to dangerous online content and risky or aggressive behavior on the Internet? Social skills and mental resilience are crucial both online and offline. Developing these skills from an early age can serve as a protective "shield" and a foundation for harmonious development in the face of the many new challenges posed by digital advancement. During the webinar, you will learn about the role preschools can play in this area as places for early social experiences and the support they can receive in this regard. You will also discover research findings on the relationship between emotional competence development and susceptibility to online addiction and risky behaviors.

[Webinar conducted in polish] The internet is not just a space for entertainment for young people, but also a place where they build their identity, form relationships, and gain knowledge. In the age of memes, fake news, and rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence, teenagers face challenges related to the credibility of information and responsible internet use. At the same time, the internet offers them incredible opportunities for growth, creativity, and social engagement. Participants in this webinar will learn how to support youth in navigating the digital world consciously and safely, how to develop skills that help them critically assess content, engage in dialogue, and use technology for positive action.

[Webinar conducted in polish] Education in Poland faces issues that have been accumulating over the years. Expectations for how 21st-century schools should look can be extremely varied. Many of these expectations stem from personal experiences with school, based on the notion, "it was what it was, but we turned out okay." Such an approach does not facilitate the implementation of what education should provide to support individuals and be a good investment in social development. It revolves around the reasoning that becomes the basis for persuasion, often disregarding the needs and arguments of those with differing opinions. This results in a significant social deficit that has now grown into pervasive hate. This kind of communication is not a good example for young people because we do not learn what someone tells us to learn, but rather what is modeled through behavior. When I discovered NVC (Nonviolent Communication), I wrote the sentence: "I opened the door to a world I longed for but didn't know existed." During the meeting, I will attempt to open that door and show that it is worth opening wide.

[Webinar conducted in polish] During the session, we will examine two different philosophies for addressing violence in schools: the approach focused on combating violence and the approach centered on building community within the classroom. Each of these approaches has its own unique features, benefits, and challenges, which are worth considering in the context of effectively dealing with violence among young people. We will explore how these approaches differ and why it’s important not to focus solely on one, particularly the first approach, which centers on fighting violence itself. Discussing this topic will provide a better understanding of how concentrating only on combating aggression may yield short-term results but often fails to address the root of the problem. In contrast, building community fosters long-lasting relationships, mutual respect, and a positive atmosphere, which can prevent violence from emerging in the first place. During our session, we will also present several practical solutions characteristic of both approaches.

[Webinar conducted in polish] Research findings in the field of sexual education reveal that pornography is a topic that evokes the most ambivalent reactions among adults. On one hand, they experience significant anxiety regarding the child's safety and a desire to educate them, while on the other, they often feel unprepared to discuss the topic with their child. This often results in withdrawal or a prohibitive response, where the child is simply told not to watch such content. The workshop aims to help adults become more comfortable with the idea of discussing pornography with their children, providing them with knowledge and specific tools to explain the harmfulness of pornographic content. The goal is to develop the ability to engage in a factual yet gentle conversation about the differences between pornography and real relationships. The workshop also aims to support adults in building a relationship with their child based on mutual trust and a sense of security, especially when discussing sensitive and complex topics.

[Webinar conducted in polish] This webinar is dedicated to teachers, educators, school psychologists, and parents who want to learn how to effectively counteract bullying (peer violence) and cyberbullying (cyber violence) in the school and classes environment. We will discuss both the theoretical aspects of the phenomenon and practical strategies for intervention and supporting students.

[Webinar conducted in polish] The internet offers opportunities for education, support, and building relationships with people who share similar experiences. For teens from minority groups, it can be difficult to find such connections outside the digital world. However, almost every young LGBTQIAP+ person has encountered homo/bi/transphobic content online, and a significant majority have also experienced direct cyberbullying. This carries serious consequences, posing a lasting threat to their health and lives. Meanwhile, research shows that the supportive presence of even one adult in the life of such a person can have a protective effect, reducing the risk of suicide attempts by 40%. The aim of this lecture is to provide information on how to be a supportive adult and practical tools for creating an environment where diverse teens are healthy and safe.

[Webinar conducted in polish] The Child on Web Counseling Center – one of the programs of the Empowering Children Foundation – provides specialized assistance to children, adolescents, and parents in situations related to online threats. Problematic internet use (PUI) is currently the most frequently reported issue to us. In working with individuals who overuse screens, we have decided to implement treatment methods with clinically proven efficacy in various problem areas. To this end, we have introduced the Lighthouse Programme with elements of MBT (Mentalization-Based Therapy), developed by experts from the Anna Freud Center and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, for working with groups of parents whose children overuse screens. The webinar will aim to introduce the principles of this approach to addressing the problem, provide a general overview of the method, and share insights based on the experiences of our specialists to date.

[Webinar conducted in polish] The webinar is aimed at educators who wish to deepen their understanding of anti-discrimination education and its practical application in daily work. Counteracting discrimination in schools is not just a formal requirement but a fundamental aspect of fostering a school community based on mutual respect and equality. Teachers, as those responsible for the educational process and the development of young people, have a significant influence on the values and attitudes that will prevail within the school community. Their awareness of anti-discrimination issues and their ability to implement appropriate preventive measures are crucial in creating a safer and more welcoming atmosphere in schools. The webinar aims to support educational staff in fulfilling their responsible role and inspire them to become trendsetters in the field of anti-discrimination education.

[Webinar conducted in polish] The social media platforms that children and young people use have a significant impact on them. One in three teenagers is active on social media platforms for 2 to 6 hours each day, one in four teenagers has 5 to 8 accounts on them, one in five teenagers cannot function well without social media and more than 40% of young people use them to kill time. It is also worth knowing that more and more companies and businesses are using artificial intelligence to create content and manage social media. How and for what purposes is artificial intelligence being used in social media? How can AI shape the worldview of young people? Can algorithms amplify the problem of cyberbullying? What impact can virtual influencers have on children and young people? We will try to answer these and other questions during the webinar.

[Webinar conducted in polish] Most contemporary research indicates that boys and men are disproportionately more likely to be perpetrators of violence compared to girls and women. At the same time, they themselves often experience violence, primarily from other boys and men. How can we talk to boys about violence in a way that fosters change rather than guilt? How can we address gender-based violence that girls and women experience in these discussions? When should we listen, and when should we set boundaries? In this webinar, we will explore answers to these questions, drawing on the several years of experience the Owoc Spotkania Foundation team has gained through their anti-violence workshops, SZTAMA, designed for boys.

[Webinar conducted in polish] The webinar aims to understand the phenomenon of harmful online content, analyze its impact on young people, and present effective ways to respond to it. During the event, we will focus on topics such as harmful live streams, freak fights, and influencers promoting dangerous behaviors. We will also address other types of harmful content targeting young individuals and showcase the latest trends on various platforms used by young users.