Some of our youngest voices will be among those driving Safer Internet Day.
On its 23rd year, the theme for the global campaign is ‘AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control’ and will see children share first-hand perspectives on the impact of generative Artificial Intelligence as they urge industry and policymakers to prioritise what they have to say.
Research from UCD shows that while young people do not trust AI – they reluctantly accept the privacy trade-offs and whilst they know about its capacity for malicious use, they increasingly rely on it.
Today, experts from across Europe will join members of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel, a group of young people from across the country, at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, hosted by the Irish Safer Internet Centre, to discuss how the digital lives of our youth are being altered and to look at how they can be supported to develop skills and confidence to engage with the technology critically and responsibly.
Among the lineup is a keynote address from Dr. Mhairi Aitken of the Alan Turing Institute whose research examines AI and children’s rights, with contributions too from the Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett, Professor of Social Psychology Sonia Livingstone at the London School of Economics and Political Science and Dr. Claudette Pretorius, Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin.
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton said: “With rapidly-evolving AI bringing opportunities and challenges to our world and our daily lives, it is an honour for me as Minister to join with members of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel and international experts today in celebrating Safer Internet Day 2026. It is now more important than ever that we can empower our children and young people to develop the critical thinking and digital literacy skills needed to evaluate AI generated content, protect their privacy and make responsible decisions.
Minister Naughton adds; “Online safety and the safe and ethical use of digital technologies is a key component of my department’s Digital Strategy for Schools. Webwise, the department’s online safety initiative, is doing significant work to raise awareness in this area and I would encourage all teachers and parents to explore their wide array of resources and training programmes available at webwise.ie promoting digital citizenship, online wellbeing and more.”
A spokesperson for The Irish Safer Internet Centre notes; “This Safer Internet Day will explore ways to help children and young people be safe and responsible in a complex world increasingly shaped by AI tools and digital technology. Our aim is to provide children and young people and parents with resources and advice on using Gen AI Tools. Explore ways to safeguard children online and reflect on the current state of play of GenAI, and finally to empower children and young people to thrive in the digital world through active participation and education.”
Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett commented; “I am delighted to continue our support of Safer Internet Day this year by sharing with schools across Ireland a set of educational resources designed to support teaching and learning about children’s rights online, and to encourage a critical-thinking approach to online information. Safer Internet Day is an important event in our calendar and its focus this year on AI is both welcome and timely.”
Safer Internet Day in Ireland is coordinated by the Irish Safer Internet Centre, a partnership between Hotline, ISPCC, National Parents Council and Webwise, 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.
Mick Moran is CEO of Irish Internet Hotline and has been outlining more for KCLR News’ Edwina Grace;
