Better Internet for Kids

This year’s theme is Prepare / protect / thrive: Navigating algorithms and influencers, and it invites parents, schools, educators, young people, and all stakeholders to consider how algorithms and influencers shape young people’s lives. In a world of endless online information, Safer Internet Day 2025 explores ways to empower children to thrive, equipped with skills to navigate both the opportunities and challenges of these powerful digital influences.

Safer Internet Day in Ireland is coordinated by the Irish Safer Internet Centre, a partnership between Webwise, ISPCC, National Parents Council, and Hotline.ie, providing a range of complementary online safety services, including an education and awareness centre, child and parent helplines, and a hotline. The centre is coordinated by the Department of Justice and co-funded by the European Union.

Safer Internet Day 2025 is also supported by a wide range of key stakeholders, including the Department of Education, Oide Technology in Education, and Coimisiún na Meán.

This article highlights just a few of the events for Safer Internet Day 2025.

Safer Internet Day event

Hosted at Microsoft Dream Space, the 2025 Safer Internet Day event brought together key stakeholders to discuss and reflect on the opportunities and challenges facing children and young people online. With access to so much information online, this Safer Internet Day explored how to protect and empower them to navigate the opportunities and challenges of these powerful influences.

The event, which was opened by Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee, featured keynote contributions from:

• Manon Baert, 5Rights Foundation
• Yves Punie, European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency
• Professor Debbie Ging, Dublin City University
• Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner – Coimisiún na Meán

Safer Internet Day events around Ireland

Hundreds of events in schools, clubs, and organisations are still taking place across the country for Safer Internet Day. Here are just some of the highlights!

• “Treating everyone with kindness and respect online” – Loreto Secondary School Kilkenny:
  • Kahoot quizzes
  • Informational talks for first years
  • Canva posters on internet safety
  • Speaking to the local radio station
  • Tips and facts on bookmarks
  • Irish Influencer Cameos
  • Competitions between base classes (artwork & slogans)
  • Case studies (situational games)
  • Spot the AI-generated images
• “Safer Internet Day” – Holy Trinity NS:
  • Garda visit classes and talk about safety, kindness, and respect online
  • Poster competitions
  • Debates
  • Outreach to parents with information to raise awareness
• “Empower your clicks” – Enniscorthy Youthreach:
  • Poster competition
  • Peer-to-peer learning
  • External speakers
• “Be safe, stay safe” – St Molaga’s SNS:
  • Each class will do a Webwise lesson
  • Discussion to back up class lessons
  • Key messages delivered at assembly

Visit the interactive SID events map to view what happened in your area and to share your own plans to promote a safer and better internet on Safer Internet Day!

Safer Internet Day 2025 Ambassadors

Over 100 post-primary students from schools across Ireland took part in this year’s Webwise SID Ambassador Programme. This year, the training programme had a hybrid format with online training sessions and an in-person training day, which took place at Google HQ in Dublin. During the in-person training, students received valuable guidance and support from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel. The programme empowers students with the knowledge and skills to run their own online safety campaigns in their schools and local communities for Safer Internet Day.

The training day also featured a special guest panel discussion with contributions from:

• Content Creator Jim Flano
• Professor Aphra Kerr
• Webwise Youth Panelist Mae

The discussion explored the theme “Prepare / protect / thrive: Navigating algorithms and influencers”. This gave students the chance to ask questions and explore the impact of algorithms and influencers on young people’s online lives.

The young people led an incredible range of initiatives to raise awareness of online safety in their schools for Safer Internet Day 2025.

Prepare / Protect / Thrive – Awareness Campaign

For Safer Internet Day, Webwise is running an awareness campaign to highlight that we all have a role to play in supporting children online. Under the theme Prepare / protect / thrive: Navigating algorithms and influencers, the campaign raises awareness of the impact of these powerful influences and provides information and support to parents, educators, and young people.

A new short film highlights that we all have a role to play in supporting children and young people online.  

The campaign is supplemented by a national media campaign to raise awareness, while an influencer campaign on Safer Internet Day highlighted key online safety and digital literacy messages to youth audiences.

Webinars for parents

Free parents webinars: Prepare / protect / thrive – Helping your child develop healthy digital habits

This webinar series empowers parents to support their child’s online experience. Each session dives into key aspects of the digital world, from safe communication and healthy online play to identifying misinformation and understanding how algorithms and privacy affect daily digital life. Through practical guidance, parents will learn how to foster respectful, responsible, and positive digital habits in their children, ensuring a balanced approach to online safety and digital well-being. Expert guests for the series include:

• Dr. Colman Noctor
• Mark Little
• National Parents Council

Learn more about Safer Internet Day activities in Ireland on their SID page on our platform!

Further information about the Irish Safer Internet Centre can be found on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) public portal, including links to its national websites and other contact information. Similar information can be found on the BIK portal for all Safer Internet Centres in Europe.