Brussels, 07/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Safer Internet Day was celebrated on 7 February by around 95 organisations from 36 countries across the world, including 24 EU countries, the United States, Russia, Argentina and New Zealand. Organised under the patronage of Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding the 2006 Safer Internet Day featured a “blogathon” or “blog-marathon”, during which a wide range of organisations and special guests promoted Internet safety by making postings and inviting comments from visitors, children, schools and parents. The geographical focus of the 24-hour, multi-lingual blog moved steadily westwards through the global time zones. According to a Eurobarometer survey carried out in December 2005 and which will be published at the beginning of March, 50% of parents say that their child has access to the Internet, but only 20% have set rules on its use. Top rules mentioned by parents involve “not allowing access to certain websites” (55%) and “limiting the time spent on the Internet” (53%). The Commission's Safer Internet Programme has been running since 1999 and aims to provide parents and teachers with the knowledge and tools they need top ensure Internet safety. The current 4-year programme (2005-2008) has a budget of 45 million euro to combat illegal and harmful Internet content. (Information: http: //europa.eu.int/saferinternet) According to Mrs Reding, “Parents need to teach their children to recognise the risks that can arise when using the Internet, and what to do when a situation makes them feel uncomfortable”. The Commissioner says that this needs to become “common sense” and “as natural as teaching children basic road safety from the day they set foot outside the house”.