Always take a screenshot.

Thousands of children in Finland face sexual harassment online every day.

Teach this to a child:

Something online making you suspicious?

Take a screenshot. Every time.

Show it to a trusted adult, but don’t share the image with anyone.

Link to Protect Children Association's guidance

Kuvassa henkilö pitää älypuhelinta tarkennettuna, ja hänen kasvonsa ovat epäselvät pimeää taustaa vasten.

Children in Finland are not safe from sexual harassment online either

According to a study conducted by the University of Jyväskylä, nearly one in ten 11-, 13- and 15-year-old children in Finland experience sexual harassment on social media every single week. That amounts to almost 18,000 children.* The effects of online harassment and even violence can follow a child throughout their life. While addressing this issue is our responsibility as adults, it is also important that children know how to act themselves.

A single screenshot can make a huge difference. Talk to a child about online safety and learn the screenshot rule together – preferably before they get their first device of their own.

(*) Source: WHO School-aged Children Study 2026 conducted by the University of Jyväskylä, preliminary results. The number of children is calculated based on Statistics Finland population data and the percentages reported in the study responses. Most recent published WHO School-aged Children Study in Finland, Lahti et al., 2024.

When a child shows you a screenshot:

1. Listen to the child calmly, show understanding, and comfort them.

2. Do not share the screenshot with anyone else, as doing so may be a criminal offence.

3. If you suspect a crime, contact the police. A suspicion alone is sufficient.

4. If you do not suspect a crime, delete the screenshot from all devices, including the device’s recycle bin or deleted items folder.

Information about the study cited on this page

The WHO Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Finland is part of an international research programme conducted in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Europe. The study collects anonymous survey responses from hundreds of thousands of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old children and adolescents across Europe, North America, and Asia.

The survey is conducted every four years in approximately 50 countries.

The Finnish sample is nationally representative. In the 2024 publication, the number of respondents (N) was 2,288. In the latest 2026 survey, the number of respondents was 9,971.

Questions about threats and harmful experiences on social media were included for the first time in the 2022 survey. The results cited on this page are preliminary findings from the 2026 survey.

The survey questions in Finnish were: “Kuinka usein kohtaat sosiaalisessa mediassa seuraavia asioita?” (“How often do you encounter the following on social media?”) and “Sinuun kohdistuva seksuaalinen häirintä tai ahdistelu” (“Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual advances directed at you”).

The latest published HBSC study for Finland is: Lahti et al., 2024: View the publication.

Työpöytä, jossa on tusseja, piirustuksia, leluavaruussukkula, pehmoeläin, kirjoja ja valaistu lamppu.

Protect Children's Digital Safety Workshops

Protect Children organises regular digital safety skills workshops for young schoolchildren, with the support of DNA. More than 30,000 children from over 170 locations across Finland have already participated in these workshops. When the whole class has strong digital safety skills, children are best protected. You can also recommend the workshop to your child’s teacher!

Protect Children is organizing the following workshops this autumn (In Finnish):

Workshop 1: Digital Safety Skills

In these workshops, children will learn and practice important digital safety skills for different situations they may encounter in their everyday digital lives.

For ages 5-6: Tuesday 29 September, 9:00-11:00
For ages 7-9: Thursday 1 October, 9:00-11:00

Workshop 2: Personal Boundaries

In these workshops, children will learn and practice safety skills related to personal boundaries, body autonomy, and respecting their own physical space.

For ages 5-6: Tuesday 17 November, 9:00-11:00
For ages 7-9: Thursday 19 November, 9:00-11:00

Learn more on the Protect Children website. You can also share information about the workshops with your child's teacher.

Lapsi ja aikuinen, jolla on kuvioitu mekko, kädestä pitäen seisovat puulattialaudoilla.

Learning to use digital devices is like learning traffic rules

Digital life is a great opportunity to learn, play and stay connected—as long as it’s done safely, in an age-appropriate way, and with an adult’s gentle guidance. Our recommendation is that, regardless of the child’s age, smart devices should always be practised together with an adult first. You can compare the situation to traffic skills: first you take the route together with an adult, identify any potential danger spots, learn safe ways to cross the road, and go through the rules together. Only then is it time to try navigating independently. It’s important for adults to remember that no technology or safety setting can replace an adult’s presence—or fully protect a child online.

Henkilö istuu nurmikolla urheiluvaatteissa, pitää älypuhelinta molemmilla käsillään, vaaleanpunaiset lenkkarit näkyvissä.

First phone and independent use

According to the recommendation of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), children under the age of 13 are not recommended to have their own smartphone. It is therefore advisable to delay purchasing a child’s first smartphone until there is a genuine need for it. A child’s guardian decides whether a child needs a phone and is responsible for its appropriate introduction and responsible use. Practising digital skills does not require a child to have their own device.

Recommendations for the use of digital devices by children aged 6–13:

Smartphones are not recommended for children aged 6–13, as their socio-cognitive skills are not yet sufficiently developed for safe independent internet use.
If a child aged 6–13 needs a device to stay in touch with friends and family, we primarily recommend a device with limited features, such as a watch phone, which does not provide access to the open internet.
If a smartphone is nevertheless purchased for a child aged 6–13, parents should familiarise themselves carefully with the device’s built-in safety and parental control settings and, if necessary, also use a separate security service, such as DNA Digiturva, to help protect the device and the child online.

Silmälasipäinen nuori hymyilee ottaessaan selfietä älypuhelimella sisätiloissa.

Age Limits and Screen Time – Guidelines for Everyday Family Life

Digital environments are designed to be engaging, which is why children need adult support in setting limits on their use. We recommend following the screen time guidelines issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), as they support children’s brain development, sleep, and overall well-being:

Ages 0–2: No screen time. An exception may be made for shared family video calls.
Ages 2–5 and 6–10: Screen time up to a maximum of 1 hour per day.
Ages 11–13: Screen time up to a maximum of 2 hours per day.
Age limits:The age ratings for social media, games, and films should be followed. In line with THL guidance, children under the age of 13 should not use social media services (such as WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, or Instagram).

Note: In addition to screen time, children can listen to audiobooks or music without looking at a screen. Devices may occasionally be used for longer periods, for example during a family movie night.

DNA’s tips for parents for a safe digital everyday life

Learn together: Take an interest in your child’s digital life. Doing things together is the best way to understand a child’s digital environment and to notice if they encounter something worrying or distressing online.

Balance through breaks: A child’s developing brain needs time away from screens. As early as 2022, DNA launched the nationwide Disconnect Day and, together with Protect Children association, developed the Phone Park concept to help families easily set aside smart devices during shared moments. Playtime, conversations, and meals without screens strengthen interaction and connection.

Wind down in the evening: Screen use should be stopped at least one hour before bedtime to help ensure good sleep quality.

Get safety settings right: Familiarise yourself with and make use of the device’s built-in security and restriction features. In addition, it is recommended to use a service that protects against cybersecurity threats and safeguards both the device and personal data.

Lead by example: Children learn by observing adults. The way you use digital devices sets an example for your child.

Hymyilevä pitkätukkainen nainen halaa nuorta tyttöä ulkona, molemmat näyttävät onnellisilta.

A Safe Digital Everyday Life Activity Book Sent to 200,000 Homes

DNA and Protect Children (Suojellaan Lapsia ry) have jointly developed an activity book for children aged 5–9 that supports the learning of digital safety skills through storytelling and hands-on activities.

Puhelimen latausasema, jossa on sarjakuvamakosotteja ja teksti Puhelinparkki näytöllä.

Phone Parking to Support Families’ Digital Everyday Life

Digital environments are engaging, enriching, and fascinating – for both adults and children. Still, it is important to find a balance between time spent together and time spent using devices. Phone parking offers a moment of rest both for an overworked phone and for the mind as well.

Mies ja lapsi istuvat pianon ääressä ja lukevat yhdessä nuotteja tabletilta.

Disconnect Day

DNA launched Disconnect Day in 2022 to remind of the importance of screen-free moments.

Vaaleanpunainen pelikorttipakka, osa korteista kuvapuoli ylöspäin, avoimen korttirasian vieressä vaalealla alustalla.

Digital Skills Playing Cards With Plan International Finland

The deck of cards is excellent tool for practicing digital skills, while it has reached more than 60 000 students already.