Throughout February 2025, the Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL) intensified its ongoing commitment to building a safer, more inclusive digital environment through a range of community initiatives. The month’s efforts centered particularly on one of the groups most vulnerable to online risks: senior citizens. By equipping seniors and volunteers with essential digital skills, raising awareness about emerging online threats, and closing digital gaps across diverse populations, ISOC-IL took proactive steps to foster trust, resilience, and digital confidence among Israel’s internet users.
Here’s a snapshot of Safer Internet Month 2025:
Giving Volunteers the Tools to Support Seniors
On February 12, Yonatan Ben-Horin, Manager of ISOC-IL’s Internet Safety Hotline, delivered an insightful lecture to counselors from the Israeli Volunteering Council as part of the “Maot” community initiative. The program is aimed at preventing the financial exploitation of senior citizens. Yonatan emphasized practical tools and the essential services provided by the Hotline, equipping volunteers to better assist seniors in navigating online threats safely and confidently.
A.I.-Era Scams: Raising Awareness
Continuing ISOC-IL’s advocacy for digital safety, Yonatan Ben-Horin delivered a webinar on February 16 to 600 participants in the “Pashut Tech” (“Simply Tech”) program. This initiative provides regular educational sessions to seniors, focusing on how to navigate the digital world securely. In his talk, Yonatan specifically addressed the emerging threats posed by scams and fraud in the age of artificial intelligence, sharing actionable strategies to build awareness and resilience against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Watch the full webinar here:
Safer Internet Day for Arab Seniors
On February 19, in preparation for ISOC-IL’s upcoming “Safer Internet Day For Arab Seniors,” Dima Assad, Head of Digital Inclusion Programs at ISOC-IL, led a dedicated training session for Hasoub volunteers who work with senior citizens. The session focused on effective strategies for teaching online safety to older adults in Arab society. On February 25, these volunteers put their training into practice during the “Safer Internet Day for Arab Seniors” event–a collaborative initiative by ISOC-IL, Hasoub, and Eshel Joint. The event reached 180 seniors across Arab communities in Israel, promoting safer digital habits and boosting online confidence among participants.
Read more here.
“Safety Net”: Online Safety Podcast with ISOC-IL Experts
On February 18, ISOC-IL’s Hadar Lahav (Head of Online Safety and Digital Literacy) and Yonatan Ben-Horin (Internet Safety Hotline Manager) sat down with Yarden Amir (ISOC-IL’s Digital Outreach Specialist) for an online podcast addressing some of the most urgent threats facing internet users today—from sexual exploitation and online scams to the harmful use of technologies like deepfakes. The conversation aimed not only to raise public awareness, but to empower listeners with practical tools for safer, more informed digital behavior. To ensure the discussion met the public’s real concerns, listeners were invited to submit questions in advance–helping shape a focused and relevant conversation. This was ISOC-IL’s first live broadcast across LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube and continues to circulate on social media, amplifying its impact and helping to build digital resilience.
Watch here:
While Safer Internet Month gave us a special opportunity to highlight these efforts, ISOC-IL experts work year-round to advance key research and public discourse on internet infrastructure, innovation, and policy—reinforcing our commitment to an open, safe, and inclusive internet for all.
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Want to learn more about our community-based online safety work?
Visit our Internet Safety Hotline web page.