The European Commission is putting the potential dangers of using the web under the spotlight by naming today "Safer Internet Day". Insafe, the EU's network for safer internet use, today launched a global "blogathon" to draw attention to the legal, ethical and safety issues associated with the internet.

A wide range of organisations involved in promoting internet safety, as well as special guests, will make postings on the blog, inviting comments from users around the world.

According to blog tracking site Technorati, 70,000 new blogs are created every day, many by young people, while a Guardian/ICM poll in the UK found a third of young people published content online on a personal blog or website.

The aim of the event is to raise awareness of the potential risks associated with the posting of personal information and copyright material on blogs.

European Commissioner for Information Society and Media and patron of the event Viviane Reding said: "Blogs are a popular new way of communicating for young people and for all age groups, so it is appropriate that the Insafe network is using a blog on Safer Internet Day to show how using the Internet can be enjoyable, and what young people need to remember when blogging."

Visit the Safer Internet Day website here.

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