Up to 72% of Maltese youths between the ages of 11 and 12 have a Facebook profile, which is against the rules of the popular social networking site. More than 90% of youths between the ages of 13 and 14 also make heavy use of social networking and 56% have internet access on their smartphones.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth, Jose Herrera, referred to these figures, which were produced by a 2012 study carried out by the Malta Communications Authority, while speaking at a press conference marking the conclusion of the second consecutive BeSmartOnline! initiative.

BeSmartOnline! is an EU co-funded project set up four years ago with the aim of raising awareness and educating children and young people, parents, carers and educators on the safer use of the internet by children. In addition, support to those who require assistance related to being safe online is given through the national helpline 179.

The project, in close collaboration with the Cyber Crime Unit of the Malta Police Force, has also embarked on a fight against illegal content, particularly online child sexual abuse, through the establishment of a Hotline which allows the public to anonymously report such content. This reporting mechanism is available at www.childrenwebalert.gov.mt

The project is coordinated by the Malta Communications Authority and implemented through a consortium which also includes the Foundation for Social Welfare Services and the Office of the Commissioner for Children.

Among the many awareness raising initiatives, BeSmartOnline! has successfully implemented an ambitious school campaign. Around 9,000 students in all Form 3 and Year 6 in Malta in Gozo participated in an interactive lesson specifically designed to empower children to be responsible of their digital lives and critically evaluate risks that they might encounter online.

Special attention was also given to children that were identified as being more susceptible to online risks. The Office of the Commissioner for Children coordinated a number of tailored sessions for such vulnerable groups and their respective carers.

Dr Herrera said the government has made it a priority to ensure that all citizens are given the possibility to benefit from ICT services. However, it is also important that people become good digital citizens, aware of their rights and responsibilities and capable of identifying the risks that exist in the digital world. The widespread use of technology among youths is not a new phenomenon but we cannot forget the fact that young people may lack the necessary online skills and be susceptible to online risks.

During the past four years, the MCA has coordinated the BeSmartOnline! campaign, which led to the establishment of a Safer Internet Centre which, along with other entities, promotes awareness and supports children and the people around them.

The initiative has also helped in the fight against illegal content related to sexual abuse on children with the setting up of a Hotline. This was made possible through collaboration with the Police Cyber Crime Unit, which can block or remove such content from the internet.

Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said Agenzija Appogg, along with the MCA and the Office of the Commissioner for Children are working on a project to protect children and adolescents from factors that might lead to cyber bullying and online grooming. He said a new study had listed all the acronyms used during online chatting and their real meanings and these will be published to make parents more aware of what their children are up to when they are online.

The Minister said the Appogg hotline received 380 reports in 2013 and between January and June of this year it received 137 reports. A substantial number of cases involved illegal content. The police were called in and the necessary action was taken to help the victims and identify the perpetrators. Dr Farrugia said the project has been a success and was even lauded by the EU.

When asked how the success of the campaign can be measured in view that calls on the Appogg hotline have increased, Dr Farrugia said this was an educational campaign and the most important thing is that people are being made aware of the risks and know where to seek help. The fact that calls have increase might not necessarily be an indicator of an increase in online abuse but might actually be a sign that the campaign is working and more youths are reporting to the competent authorities.

Dr Herrera said this is about mitigation of the problem, since total eradication is impossible. MCA Chairman Edward Woods said the most important question is what would the figures be if there was no BeSmartOnline! programme. Project coordinator Mark Spiteri noted that after a recent outreach programme targeting some 9,000 school children, 68% said they would change their online behaviour and 90% said the information provided was much needed.

Mr Spiteri said there are already plans for a third edition of the initiative. He explained that this year, over 600 teachers participated in training seminars addressed by both local and foreign experts. Parents were also given the opportunity to attend training sessions on digital parenting.

Children's Commissioner Helena Dalli said the programme is not about controlling youths but rather about giving them the tools to be safer online. Children were given the opportunity to give their views through a Youth Panel and other consultation meetings. A number of information notes on the good use of social networking sites and against cyber bullying were disseminated amongst children and educators. The Office was also selected by the European Commission to coordinate the Pan-EU Youth Panel which meets annually in Luxembourg.

The Foundation for Social Welfare Services, particularly Agenzija Appogg, coordinates the helpline and Hotline. The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Alfred Grixti, said that it is important that the awareness-raising initiatives are supported by a Helpline which offers support to the victims of abuse and to parents who suspect that their children are at risk. Within this past year, the Helpline has received 145 calls directly related to the subject matter.

MCA Chairman Edward Woods explained how the authority is committed to this initiative. "If Malta is to truly become a digitally-enabled country, it is imperative to invest in the empowerment of children so that they may freely explore and explore the opportunities available both from an education perspective and eventually those entrepreneurial." The MCA has led the application for funds made to the European Commission. Should such funds be granted, BeSmartOnline! will be in a position to continue to build on the previous work. Both Mrs D'Amato and Minister Michael Farrugia agreed on the need to continue this national project irrespectively of whether EU funds are granted.