Helping kids build and manage healthy online relationships MOOC - BIK
For today’s youth, the internet and digital technologies play a crucial role in facilitating and supporting their communication and relationships with their friends, family, peers and others. Many children and young people use technology as a way to develop new friendships and relationships, as well as manage and strengthen existing relationships with those they know offline.
Youth online communication can take many forms, and young people use a range of services and platforms to meet their needs for developing relationships. However, with the limitless opportunities for connection and communication with others, there are also many risks ranging from cyberbullying, or grooming to radicalisation of youth or harmful gender stereotypes, among others. The MOOC "Helping kids build and manage healthy online relationships" by the Better Internet for Kids initiative kicked off on October 6 and wraps up on 12 November 2025, with plenty of time to register and join still.
Details about this MOOC
Against this background, this MOOC will address some of the most prominent risks and challenges that arise from the online interactions and relationships of youth.
Course objectives
The course aims to provide participants with opportunities to explore and understand the nature of youth online relationships (including but not limited to those that are considered to be romantic), the features of healthy relationships, what constitutes positive and safe behaviour online and how educators can empower youth to build healthy relationships and positive online communities.
Course modules
The course is structured into 4 modules, which can be followed at one's own pace. One new module opens up each week, with just one deadline for the peer-reviewed activity you need to keep in mind.
- Module 1: Online communication - opens on 06/10/2025
- Module 2: Understanding healthy relationships - opens on 13/10/2025
- Module 3: Tackling unhealthy and harmful relationships - opens on 20/10/2025
- Module 4: Empowering positive online behaviour - opens on 27/10/2025
Learning outcomes
By the end of this MOOC, you will be able to:
- Discuss the different ways in which young people communicate online and through technology.
- Understand the benefits that online communication offers to young people as well as the most prominent risks and challenges that arise from the online interactions and relationships.
- Compare strategies young people can employ to manage risks online, and have a list of educational approaches to teaching these strategies at your disposal.
- Identify skills required to develop and maintain healthy relationships between individuals and groups, with a focus on how educators can empower and support their learners to become active and positive digital citizens.
- Engage in awareness-raising activities related to the implementation of the BIK+ strategy and Insafe network, as part of the network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) in Europe, and associated resources.
Register here!
Are you a teacher in secondary education, working with young people and interested in exploring further the many faces of digital interaction amongst youth? Follow this link to register and enrol in this MOOC!
This course is produced by European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission as part of the Better Internet for Kids initiative with active involvement from Insafe network members.
