Safer Internet Day is being marked across Ireland today, with the annual awareness campaign being spearheaded by Webwise.ie in partnership with Coimisiún na Meán, as families, schools and communities are encouraged to reflect on how children and young people are navigating life online.
The core message this year is simple but vital: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to online safety. Instead, parents, teachers and caregivers are being urged to consult Webwise.ie to find the resources that best suit their own situation — whether that’s supporting a primary school child getting their first device, helping a teenager deal with online pressure, or strengthening media literacy skills in the classroom.
Webwise is widely recognised as Ireland’s leading online safety and digital citizenship initiative, and plays a central role in coordinating Safer Internet Day activities nationwide. The platform hosts an extensive range of free, practical resources designed not just for parents, but for primary and post-primary teachers, Garda schools, and anyone seeking to better understand how to stay safe online in an increasingly complex digital world.
From step-by-step guides and lesson plans to expert advice on social media, gaming, artificial intelligence and online wellbeing, Webwise.ie aims to empower adults to have informed, age-appropriate conversations with young people about their online lives, rather than relying solely on restrictions or bans.
At the heart of this work is the Irish Safer Internet Centre, a national partnership that brings together several key organisations to provide wraparound support for children, families and educators. The Centre comprises Webwise, ISPCC, Hotline.ie, and the National Parents Council, and offers everything from educational resources to confidential reporting mechanisms and emotional support services.
Webwise itself is the online safety initiative of the Department of Education and is co-funded by the European Commission. Its mission is to promote safer, better internet use through awareness-raising and education initiatives targeting teachers, children, young people and parents. The organisation develops and disseminates classroom-ready resources that help schools integrate digital citizenship and online safety into everyday teaching and learning, while also providing parents with accessible tools to stay engaged with their children’s digital lives. Webwise is part of Oide, a national support service for teachers and school leaders funded by the Department of Education.
For situations where harmful or illegal online content is encountered, Hotline.ie serves as Ireland’s primary national channel for members of the public to anonymously and confidentially report suspected illegal material. This includes child sexual abuse material, technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation such as grooming, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos, racism and xenophobia, and financial scams. The service plays a critical role in ensuring that dangerous content is flagged quickly and dealt with appropriately.
Meanwhile, the ISPCC, Ireland’s national children’s charity, operates Childline, the country’s only 24-hour active listening service for children and young people. Childline exists to listen, support and empower young people, helping to strengthen their resilience so they can cope with challenges both online and offline. Any child or young person can reach out at any time, free and in confidence, to talk about whatever is on their mind — whether that’s cyberbullying, online pressure, or something entirely unrelated to the internet.
Parents and carers looking for direct guidance can also turn to the National Parents Council (NPC), which provides a dedicated helpline to support families dealing with online safety issues, including cyberbullying. The NPC also offers a range of training courses for parents, delivered both online and face-to-face, helping adults feel more confident in supporting their children in digital spaces.
The work of the Irish Safer Internet Centre is part-funded by the European Union and coordinated by the Department of Justice – Cybercrime Division, reflecting the growing recognition that online safety is not just a family issue, but a national one.
As Safer Internet Day highlights, children and young people are growing up in a digital environment that changes faster than any generation before them. Rather than expecting parents or teachers to have all the answers, initiatives like Webwise.ie aim to ensure that trusted, expert-led support is always within reach.
For anyone unsure where to begin, the message from today’s campaign is clear: start with Webwise.ie, explore the resources available, and choose the supports that best fit your family, classroom or community.
