Within the Danish context, positive content is understood in relation to offerings of digital public services. Public services in Denmark aim to make known, via non-commercial channels, items of a "cultural and informative nature" as stated in the Danish Radio Act as early as 1926. It is vital that media companies are independent of direct financial and party political interests. Here, the child is not only regarded as a media user or consumer, but as a citizen of Danish democratic society. Thus, "positive content" targeted at the digital citizen is part of the government's public service obligation and remit for children and young people.
Some examples of public service platforms and offerings available to Danish children and young people:
Filmcentralen/Undervisning (Filmcentralen/Education) is the Danish Film Institute's online film service aimed directly at education. The service includes a large archive of films for streaming and a wide selection of educational resources. The purpose of the service is to promote the use of film in the classroom and raise the quality of film-appreciation and film-education efforts in schools. The service includes around 1,600 shorts and documentaries, more than 500 teaching materials and a number of other teaching resources for elementary schools and high schools. Approx. 650,000 films were streamed in 2015.
Filmcentralen/Undervisning is funded by subscription fees paid by schools. More than 2,100 institutions of learning have taken out a subscription to the service. Accordingly, more than 90 per cent of elementary and high schools have access to the service.
Filmcentralen/Undervisning (www.filmcentralen.dk) is developed in order to maximise availability and usability in the classroom. Search options have been greatly improved and the site has a number of new features developed directly for use by educators. For instance, teachers and students can make their own playlists of films, clips and stills and share content with students and colleagues.
The Public Service contract states DR's obligation to strive for variety, diversity and excellence and to present information factually and objectively. Therefore, the national broadcaster's strategy in 2015-18 is to focus on areas such as original quality content, attractive digital offers, a children's universe for digital natives and bringing news to where the consumers are. For example, the Ultra app for children, which includes a social media platform that is designed to create nuanced, accommodating conversations that are not about likes. The purpose is to create a space for the difficult conversations that do not belong in the framework of social media such as Instagram and Snapchat. Topics can be anything from friendships, to domestic violence, to losing a loved one. DR's apps are monitored by adults and other responsible people who help, support and intervene if necessary.
Biblo.dk is an online community for children where children under the age of 14 can share interests with each other in open online groups. Adult awareness is also central here: it is only "open" to write reviews, posts, comments and likes during the hours that an adult is present (between 21:00 and 09:00). Biblo.dk was created by and is run by Danish public libraries. It is managed by adult librarians.
Filmstriben.dk is the libraries' digital film platform for all Danish citizens and residents, including children and young people. Filmstriben is only for the private viewing of films and can be used by anyone who is a registered user of their local library. The films are curated by librarians based on concepts of quality, versatility and relevance as prescribed by the Library Act.
Additionally, for more information on positive content approaches in Denmark, please contact the Danish Safer Internet Centre (SIC) in the first instance - find contact details and further information here.
Age range: 6-8 years of age, 8-10 years of age, 10-12 years of age
Filmcentralen - Undervisning (Filmcentralen - Education) is the Danish Film Institute's online film service aimed directly at education. The service includes a large archive of films for streamin ...
Filmcentralen - For de yngste (Filmcentralen - For the youngest) is a new app for children aged 3 to 6 which aims to strengthen their understanding of collaboration, language and media through th ...
Age range: 6-8 years of age, 8-10 years of age, 10-12 years of age
The Public Service contract states Denmark's Radio's (DR) obligation to strive for variety, diversity and excellence and to present information factually and objectively. Therefore, the national ...
Age range: 6-8 years of age, 8-10 years of age, 10-12 years of age
Biblo is an online community for children under the age of 14 where they can share interests with each other in open online groups. Adult awareness is also central here: it is only "open" to writ ...
Age range: < 3 years of age, 3-6 years of age, 6-8 years of age, 8-10 years of age, 10-12 years of age
Filmstriben is the libraries' digital film platform for all Danish citizens and residents, including children and young people. Filmstriben is only for the private viewing of films and can be use ...
