The Online Safety Hub brings together advice and resources from a range of partner organisations so young people, carers and professionals can easily access advice and resources all in one central place.
The ReachDeck toolbar makes the hub content more available to everyone. The speak button shown below is located on every page and it can help with speech, reading and translation support.
Recently added resources
Research and Evidence:
Children's Wellbeing in a Digital World 2025 Year 4 Annual Index Report
Source: Internet Matters
Internet Matters has published findings from its fourth digital wellbeing survey, an annual study looking at how children are affected by their experiences online. The survey of over 1,000 families looked at the positive and negative impact of digital technology on physical, emotional, social and developmental wellbeing. Key findings include an increasingly polarised online landscape in which the Internet is becoming more essential but also more distressing for children, although the positive impacts continue to outweigh the negatives.
NSPCC Learning has published new research examining the design features of online platforms that can facilitate or promote abusive communications with young female users. The research explored the design of ten video-sharing, social media, gaming and messaging platforms, using fake accounts for a fictitious 14-year-old girl; interviews with experts; and user journey mapping. Findings show: online service design can be exploited to identify, target and abuse girls; risky design features are built into the entire user journey; and platforms place the onus on girls to protect themselves online.
Viewing Generative AI and Children's Safety in the Round
Source: NSPCC
NSPCC Learning has published research on Generative (Gen) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on children’s safety and wellbeing. Gen AI is a form of AI used to produce new content such as text and images. The report draws findings and recommendations from an analysis of NSPCC-commissioned research, available data and children’s views. Child safety risks highlighted around Gen AI include sexual grooming, sexual extortion and exposure to harmful content. The report looks at how these risks could spread and sets out potential solutions.
Understanding and Improving how kids report online harm
Source: Internet Matters
Internet Matters has published a research briefing about children’s and parents’ perspectives and experiences of blocking and reporting harmful content and interactions on platforms. Although these tools are widely available, research suggests that children and young people often do not use them when they encounter harm online.
'One day this could happen to me' Children, nudification tools and sexually explicit deepfakes
Source: The Children's Commissioner for England
The Children's Commissioner for England has published a report on Generative Artificial Intelligence, focusing on nudification tools and the risks to children posed by sexually explicit deepfake technology. Research included focus groups with 22 children aged 16-17. Findings show: women and girls are the main targets of sexually explicit deepfakes and nudifying tools; the presence of nudification technology is impacting girls’ participation in the online world; and children want action to be taken to tackle the misuse of AI technology. The Commissioner is calling for the Government to ban apps that use AI to generate sexually explicit deepfake images of children.
The SBNI has published sample templates to support local organisations working with children and young people. The templates cover online safety, photography, and social media policies, that can be adapted to suit the nature of your setting. The templates have been designed by experts in the NSPCC and informed by the SBNI partners, in accordance with the NI Executive’s Online Safety Strategy.
NSPCC Learning has published a series of expert insight videos on online safety. The series includes talking head contributions from a range of practitioners and young people. The films aim to help those working and volunteering with children to explore what online safety means, recognise the risks children face, and understand how to support children’s safety online.
Catfishing is when a person takes information and images from other people or generates photos using AI, and uses them to create a new identity, typically online on social media platforms. The aim of this is to deceive someone else into believing they are in a friendship or relationship, usually with the intention of fraud, extortion or cyberbullying.
It is important that parents are aware of the dangers that involves catfishing. Research has been conducted and has been found that most children will have communicated with someone online that they do not know.
Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion(FMSE): Advice for parents and carers
Source: NCA (National Crime Agency)
This guidance helps parents and carers understand financially motivated sexual extortion (FMSE), offering advice on how to talk to their child about the risks, recognise the signs, and know the appropriate steps to take if their child becomes a victim. It also outlines key reporting routes and provides practical support strategies to help protect and empower children online.
Child Sexual Exploitation Webinar for Professionals
Source: Education Authority
The webinar aims to increase awareness of the various forms of CSE online and offline, and the grooming processes that facilitate abuse. It also provides guidance on recognising and reporting concerns, as well as supporting children and young people who may be at risk or recovering from CSE.
This guidance provides practical tips for talking to young people about the risks of online challenges, how to respond to harmful ones, and how to report any concerns effectively.
Terminology Guideline for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Source: ECPAT
These guidelines provide updated survivor-centred, and precise language to describe sexual exploitation and abuse of children — helping professionals, policymakers, and the media use words that protect rather than harm.
Make sure you never miss an edition by signing up to receive our Online Safety Hub Highlights Newsletter, straight to your inbox. You'll receive updates on safeguarding and child protection news, events, guidance and resources.
If you have any questions or want to get in touch with Ineqe Safeguarding group who are maintaining the Online Safety Hub, please get in touch via email.
If you would like to contact the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, below are the contact details:
