Digital devices and social media are entering children’s lives increasingly earlier year by year: the NMHH’s recent Digital Parenting research shows that the majority of young Hungarians own a smartphone already by the age of 10 and have a social media profile by the age of 11. András Koltay, President of the NMHH and Gergely Ferenc Lendvai, media lawyer also explore the question of digital parenting in their new book. As the experts in the book point out, “children used to be raised by an entire village, now it’s the whole internet.”

In response to this phenomenon, more and more parents are using filtering software to protect their children online, but a more complex and effective means of prevention is for families to discuss and lay down basic rules for internet use together. The media authority’s free and easy-to-complete digital house rules are there to help with this, among other things. In addition to this downloadable template, completion instructions are also available on the onlinehosok.hu website.

The digital house rules not only set technical limits but can also serve as a compass for daily family life: it helps to define device use time and the range of permitted content. It is important to involve the children in the development of the rules so that they are more likely to take ownership of them and apply them more consciously in practice. Let’s not forget that achieving a digital balance is not about eliminating screens altogether but about finding healthy proportions.

The media authority lends a helping hand even when things have already gone wrong: if you are a victim of online abuse, the NMHH Internet Hotline legal helpline offers quick and free assistance to help users deal with problematic situations. The hotline is open to anyone, regardless of age, for filing a report, even if you wish to remain anonymous.

To mark Safer Internet Day, the NMHH has also initiated new partnerships with several popular players in the online space. PamKutya, aka Norbert Osbáth, has already assisted the Internet Hotline by drawing the attention of viewers to the dangers of online frauds and scams and how victims can seek help. The well-known youtuber will launch a new video today about the risks and opportunities of the online space. He will soon be joined by other famous influencers who, as parents themselves, are struggling with the digital difficulties of everyday life, and are ready to share their own stories and experiences with their followers, and will also draw attention to useful tools and best practices, along with the NMHH’s expert guidance.

Besides fulfilling its regulatory duties, the NMHH remains committed to promoting more conscious web use through information materials, programmes and professional cooperation. Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to reflect together on the challenges of the online space and take action to make the web a useful, reliable and value-adding place for all.