Safer Internet Day 2010, which will be celebrated European Union-wide on February 9, is to carry the theme Think B4 U Post, and specifically address how under-18s use social networking sites, organisers Insafe announced.

On Safer Internet Day, the European Commission (EC) said that it would look at how major internet companies had held up on their commitments to improve online safety of under-18s who use social network sites, an EC media statement said.

According to EC data, social networking sites currently have 41.7 million European users, including mostly young people, children and teenagers.

"However, they do not always realise that the personal information they post such as pictures and videos remains online and can be accessed by anyone, exposing them to risks such as cyber bullying or online grooming. Children and teenagers must be empowered to manage and control their online identity in a responsible way," the EC media statement said.

As part of the 2010 day, a campaign would be launched in more than 60 countries across the world, aiming to make young people aware that they can control their online identity by using the privacy settings offered by social networking sites, being selective in who to trust online and publishing photos only after thinking carefully about the consequences.

At the 2009 Safer Internet Day, 18 web firms signed a European agreement called Safer Social Networking Principles of the EU and brokered by the EC to improve online safety for under-18s. Two more companies joined the agreement later in 2009. The EC said it would publish a report on how these principles have been implemented by these 20 companies, the EC said.

Safer Internet Day is co-ordinated annually by the Insafe network and aims to promote safer use of the internet, online technologies and mobile phones, and to fight against illegal or harmful content and conduct.