On June 1, we celebrated World Children’s Day with a dynamic group of Dutch teenagers at CODA Apeldoorn — not with balloons or cake (although there was food and snacks), but with something just as essential: real conversations about online safety, identity, and empathy.
Together, we explored:
- The benefits and risks of online communication
- The many faces of digital identity (from the chronic over-sharer to the anonymous explorer)
- Strategies for responding to online aggression — using empathy and nonviolent communication instead of clap-backs and keyboard wars
The teens spoke openly about group chats, peer pressure, trolls, comment section chaos, and how to set boundaries in the digital world. Their honesty and insight reminded us why digital literacy must include emotional intelligence.
The energy was high, the conversations were deep, and the takeaway was clear: empathy is still the most underrated superpower online.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the internet a little kinder — one thoughtful conversation at a time.
Online Safety 