In detail, the centerpiece of the initiative is an animated video, developed by Isola di Comunicazione together with a group of interns who actively participated in its conception, writing and production.
Thus, through hand-drawn illustrations, scenes inspired by real life, and authentic voice-overs, the video recounts ten emblematic situations that reflect the most common-and often risky-behaviors of the digital age. The result is an engaging educational tool designed to speak directly and concretely to children, preteens and teens.
An educational project to promote the conscious use of the Internet
Digital life is an integral part of children’s daily lives. For this reason, it is essential to accompany them in the discovery of tools and rules that help them recognize risks and develop a critical sense, empathy and responsibility online.
In practice, it is not a matter of imposing prohibitions, but of providing concrete and positive examples, capable of generating deep reflections through language close to their lived experience.
A choral work between professionals and students: from storyboard to voice over
This project was born from a genuine synergy between the Isola di Comunicazione team and a group of young interns involved in every operational phase: from the conception of the vignettes to the writing of the scenes, from the graphic realization with the ProCreate app to the recording of the voices.
To reinforce the sense of authenticity, the characters were voiced by employees and interns themselves, while the main narrative voice was entrusted to a professional voice actor. In addition, background music was carefully selected to support the emotions conveyed in each episode.
Ten tips for surfing the web with more confidence and awareness
At the heart of the project are ten practical tips, illustrated through as many animated vignettes. These are clear and accessible messages designed to stimulate reflection and guide kids toward more responsible digital behavior.
1. Respect everyone. Even behind a screen.
Words hurt online, too. Treat others as you would like to be treated. If you have nothing positive to say, rather than leaving a nasty comment underneath a piece of content, don’t comment.
→ In this first vignette, we depicted a boy leaving offensive comments under a girl’s post. The next day he in turn receives insults under one of her posts and understands how much it can hurt to be attacked unfairly.
2. A like is not worth your life.
Jumping off a roof or driving with your phone in your hand does not make you famous. It only puts you in danger. Don’t risk your life just to get attention and/or visibility.
→ Here we show a boy lying on the tracks to take a selfie as the train arrives. We chose to represent the consequences symbolically: the boy wakes up in the hospital, giving a clear signal of the real risks.
3. Don’t run off your day.
Endless scrolling steals your time and real opportunities. Live offline, too. Put your phone away and take a walk outdoors, be in touch with nature, talk to someone.
→ The scene shows a girl scrolling through videos throughout the night. When she realizes that it is now morning, she has lost valuable time to sleep and rest.
4. Share only if it is true.
Read. Think. Verify. Don’t become the megaphone of fake news. If you come across a news story, verify the sources before spreading it or believing it.
→ In this vignette, a boy shares a fake performance by his favorite singers. His friends trust him, go to the event — but find out it doesn’t exist.
5. Take care of your online image.
What you post speaks about you. Be yourself, but choose wisely. Posting compromising images can affect your future.
→ The scene depicts a young man who posts questionable photos. At his first job interview, recruiters consult his social profiles and decide not to hire him.
6. Post only with consent.
A photo can go viral. But not everyone wants to be one. Always ask before sharing. It is important to respect the consent and wishes of others.
→ The cartoon shows a boy posting a photo with a stranger behind him. The man notices the shot and calls the police.
7. Keep your address safe.
Don’t tell everyone where you live. Protecting your privacy is protecting yourself. You may be paving the way for bad people.
→ Here we see a young man posting a photo in front of his house, with the address clearly visible. He also specifies that he is on vacation, unintentionally giving useful information to possible thieves.
8. Watch out for data and trap sites.
Do not enter sensitive data on strange sites. If you don’t trust it, leave it alone. The web is full of traps to steal your data and use it against you.
→ The eighth scene shows a boy entering his personal information on a suspicious site. Shortly afterwards he receives financial extortion from the scammers.
9. Watch out for digital scams.
Messages with rewards or alerts on accounts? Before you click, think: It could be a trap. One click can install a virus or empty your account.
→ In this vignette, a boy receives an email that appears to be from Amazon. It is a scam: he clicks and enters his payment information. The next day, the money disappears from his account.
10. Gambling is not a game.
Betting online makes you lose money, time and often control. Don’t be fooled.
→ In this last scene we see a boy who starts betting for fun, but ends up losing large sums of money. By the time he realizes his mistake, it is too late.
Communicating also means educating: values at the center
In Isola di Comunicazione we believe that communication is not just for promoting companies, products or services. On the contrary, it represents a concrete lever for building culture, generating awareness and stimulating healthy relationships.
This is why we love communication in the round: because we know its power and transformative potential. And we are convinced that it should also be put at the service of messages that really matter.
“Connected but Aware” was born from this very vision: to use creativity, skills and passion to contribute to the growth of new generations, making the Web a safer and more humane place.
If you share the message, also share the video.
A simple gesture: click on the “share” airplane to share it!
It only takes 2 minutes to help someone navigate the web better.
