Safer Internet Day 2025

This briefing will support your school or setting to take part in Safer Internet Day. It will explain why the event is important, provide some practical activities you can use with your children and young people and signpost to further information to support you to implement a whole school or setting approach.

What and when the event is

Safer Internet Day is a global initiative that takes place annually in February to promote the safer and more responsible use of online technology, especially among children and young people. The day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and encourages everyone to contribute to creating a better internet environment.

Safer Internet Day 2025 will take place on the 11th of February 2025, with celebrations and learning based around the theme 'Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online

 Safer Internet Day is important and relevant to your school or setting because it plays a significant role in safeguarding provision, helping to create a more informed and proactive community of internet users.

It raises awareness among children and young people about the various online issues and potential risks they might encounter on the internet.
It provides an opportunity for schools and settings to educate children and young people on how to use the internet safely and responsibly.
It's a chance to discuss topics like cyberbullying, privacy, digital literacy and artificial intelligence: AI.

Ofcom recently found that more children and young people are engaging with generative AI tools that adults. Four in five (79%) online teenagers aged 13-17, and 40% of 7-12 year olds now use generative AI tools and services, compared to only 31% of adults.

With this in mind, it's essential that we help the same children and young people to access this technology in a safe way — ensuring they know how to identify when it is being used online, and the potential challenges and benefits of using AI in their daily lives.

Who it's aimed at

Safer Internet Day encourages conversations between children and young people, staff, and families about online safety. It's a day that brings everyone together to discuss how they can contribute to making the internet a safer place. It emphasises the need for collective effort from not just children and young people and staff, but also families and local communities, to ensure a safe online environment for children and young people.
There may be a greater exposure to particular online risks for certain groups so it is vital that all children and young people are invited to get involved in Safer Internet Day and that resources and content is thoughtfully chosen and adapted to make it relevant and accessible.

Resources available - signposting

This year Safer Internet Day focuses on the issue of scams online and for young people, how to protect themselves and others, as well as what support is available to them.

This Safer Internet Day will assess the real scale of this issue and allow young people to share their experiences and ideas on how to tackle the problem. It will build on the important work being done to raise awareness of issues such as online financial sextortion and will also consider the future of scams, answering questions such as:

How is changing technology like generative AI going to impact the approach of scammers?
What role can the government and internet industry take to tackle this threat?
And what changes would young people like to see to help protect themselves moving forward? In the UK, Safer Internet Day is organised by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), who provide educational resources, quizzes, films, top tips, inspirational quotes and research.
The Safer Internet Day website provide a wealth of multilingual resources to make the best possible use of online technology.
Twinkl have free resources for primary schools but you will need to register for access).
The PSHE Association have developed 'What is AI?' KS2-3 lesson pack in partnership with The Alan Turing Institute which is available to download (free).
For younger pupils there are several picture books available that address online safety in an age and stage appropriate way. One of my favourites is Chicken Clicking, an imaginative story about a thrill-seeking chick, by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross.

How to use - ideas/e.g. assemblies etc.

Here are some ideas around how to make the most of the Safer Internet Day resources:

Plan Ahead: Integrate the resources into your RSHE and allow yourself time to tailor the content to the specific needs and interests of your cohort.
Choose activities and resources that will engage children and young people: The resources include quizzes, games, and conversation starters and can be as interactive as you wish.
Involve families and create opportunities for home learning: Share resources with parents and caregivers. They play a crucial role in reinforcing online safety at home. Providing them with guides and tips can help create a consistent message about safe internet use.
Promote Critical Thinking: Encourage children and young people to think critically about the information they encounter online. Use the resources to discuss how to evaluate online content for credibility and trustworthiness.
Create a Safe Space: Make sure children and young people feel comfortable discussing their online experiences. A supportive environment can lead to more open conversations and better learning outcomes.
Follow Up: Don't let the conversation end on Safer Internet Day. Use the resources to maintain an ongoing dialogue about online safety throughout the year, making sure that the school community knows how to ask for help for themselves or others.

I would also recommend exploring The PSHE Association's 'What is AI?' lesson pack designed in partnership with The Alan Turing Institute and available to download (free). The lesson includes a baseline assessment activity, introduces learning about artificial intelligence (AI), how it is used in daily life, and some of the benefits and challenges of using AI and finishes with signposting, reflection and an endpoint assessment. Resources such as sort cards and signposting for support are included and the teacher guidance includes further details on creating a safe learning environment.

Where to find out more e.g. WSA, National organisations, etc

Explore our Safer Internet Day Padlet which takes a whole school approach to using the national campaign to improve your RSHE provision around internet safety.
Find out more about the work of The Alan Turing Institute, specifically engaging children and young people in conversations about AI here.
The National Crime Agency's CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse. They do this through their education programme, providing training, resources and information to professionals working with children, young people and their families. To access free resources; professionals must register.

Who to contact if you need advice

We hope you have an enjoyable and impactful Safer Internet Day.

Please ensure pupils are supported by:

Letting pupils know where they can seek help and further advice, now and in the future, if they have questions or concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI) or other aspects of digital and media literacy.
Remind pupils that they can ask for help and advice from trusted adults at home, in school or from appropriate organisations.
Sharing the following website details with pupils:
Childline www.childline.org.uk; 0800 1111
Think u know www.thinkuknow.org.uk

If you would like further advice, guidance and signposting around Internet Safety in your setting or with your RSHE provision, please contact us on 0333 313 7165.