“Think B4 U post!” is the motto of this year’s Safer Internet Day, launched by INSAFE, promoting safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, particularly with regards to children and young people around the globe.

The vast development of technology over the past few years has obviously lead to a haemorrhaging  amount of information flow and possibilities with regards to making, posting editing and tagging digital content. Photos and videos can be taken using mobile devices and uploaded to blogs and social networks faster than it took to record them. Whilst the speed, ease and social added-value of being able to do so is impressive, this initiative encourages its newly-fledged publishers, of all ages, to ‘handle with care’, considering the implications at both private and professional levels.

The black and white separation of both work and private life has definitely fallen into the grey area, with recruiters and future bosses first scanning blogs, tweets and online profiles to get a ‘well-rounded’ opinion of potential employees, perhaps closing doors to candidates before they were even open. Pictures from the latest booze cruise might then be better left nicely tucked away offline on your hard drive!

A more concerning factor that the “think B4 U post” initiative tackles is empowering children and teenagers to manage their online identity more responsibly. Although a great modern means of expression, unprotected, it can and does often lead to manipulation, bullying and an open playing field to predators of all intentions. The aim of the campaign is not to chastise, more to inform and put users and posters back in the driving seat, seatbelt and all.

Here’s a quick clip from Insafe.