Safer Internet Day 2025: Keeping Kids Safe Today and Beyond

February 11, 2025 This Safer Internet Day, SEED calls on all members of society to take action and help protect children from online dangers. We’re sharing key tips and best practices to support parents and caregivers in keeping their kids safe in the digital world. The internet has brought countless benefits, but it has also introduced significant risks, particularly for children and families. Understanding these risks is crucial for staying safe in the digital world.

A 2024 report by Childlight estimates that at least 300 million children worldwide were affected by online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) last year.

As technology evolves, so do the methods used by criminals, with tools like artificial intelligence being used to manipulate and create harmful content. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a crisis that affects real children in every corner of the world. It’s time we act. Many families believe their children are safe because they are at home, but when children and young people use digital technology, they are exposed to risks of violence; which can take many forms. What happens online can have real-world consequences. Putting in place some basic online safety steps will help you protect yourself and your family.

Understanding Online Risk and Recognizing It

  • Know the types of online violence: When your child experiences or shows signs of online abuse, early intervention is key. Learning the types of online violence that may affect your child may result in a quicker response:
    • Cyberbullying: Persistent harassment, threats, or humiliation online.
    • Image-based sexual abuse: Sharing or manipulating intimate images or
      videos without consent.
    • Invasion of privacy or identity theft: Unauthorized access to personal
      information.
    • Grooming: Perpetrators building relationships with children online for
      sexual purposes.
    • Harassment: Annoying or worrying somebody by putting pressure on them or
      saying or doing unpleasant things to them, that can escalate offline.
    • Stalking: Persistent, obsessive actions that instill fear or distress in

      the victim.

  • Learn where and who is committing online violence:

    Technology-facilitated violence can occur on or through any digital device – laptops, mobile phones, tablets; and while most frequently identified on social networking sites, it can occur on gaming sites, messaging applications, or entertainment and streaming sites. Perpetrators can be strangers hiding behind fake persona’s, or someone you know and trust, and children and adults alike can be both victims and perpetrators. Practicing vigilance and protecting your privacy online is imperative.

  • Warning signs of online abuse: Certain behaviors may indicate that your child is experiencing online violence or abuse, including:
    • Sudden emotional shifts and erratic or uncharacteristic moods and behaviors
    • Sudden withdrawal or increased use of devices
    • Avoidance toward activities or events they would normally enjoyƒ
    • Poor grades or decreased quality of school work

    • Physical withdrawal from shared family time, time with friends, or fear of going to school


Proactive Steps for Online Safety

  • Setting Clear Guidelines for Internet Use: Establishing clear rules for internet use is essential to keeping children safe online. This includes setting boundaries around which websites and apps are safe to use, how much time can be spent online, and the kind of respectful behavior expected when interacting digitally. Involving children in creating these guidelines can help them understand the reasons behind the rules, making them more likely to respect them. It’s important to regularly revisit these rules as your child grows, as technology and online spaces evolve quickly.

  • Teaching Privacy and Online Awareness: Teaching children how to protect their privacy online is a vital part of digital safety. Ensure your child understands the risks of sharing personal information, like their full name, address, school, or photos. Encourage them to be cautious when interacting with strangers and to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments that may contain harmful software. Help them understand that not everything they see online is true, and they should question offers or messages that seem too good to be true.

  • Open Communication and Leading by Example: Open communication and trust are fundamental to keeping children safe on the internet. Regularly talk to your child about their online activities, what they enjoy, and any challenges they may face. Encourage them to come to you if something makes them uncomfortable online. When children feel comfortable discussing their online lives, they are more likely to ask for help if they encounter issues. Leading by example is just as important; children are more likely to follow your rules if they see you respecting others’ privacy and avoiding harmful behaviors, which helps set a positive example.

  • Strengthen Security: Taking steps to strengthen security ensures your child’s digital safety and reduces the risk of cyber threats. Start by teaching your child how to create strong, unique passwords that include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Encourage them to keep their passwords confidential and explain the importance of using different passwords for different accounts. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible adds an extra layer of protection to online accounts. Additionally, staying informed about new apps and potential online dangers helps parents keep up with emerging threats.

  • Practice Permission and Consent: Ask children if they are comfortable having their images or videos shared online, and if not your own child, ask their parent or legal guardian before sharing anywhere online.

Where to Get Help and Learn More

  • Know where to turn for help: If you or someone you care about becomes a victim of online harassment, help is available. Keep contact information for local authorities, NGOs, and support networks on hand for guidance. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, for immediate support with online violence, contact the Government 24-hour Helpline for Domestic Violence: 119.

  • Keep learning about online safety: To continue learning about online safety, there are several free resources available. Websites like NetSmartz and the Australian eSafety Commissioner offer materials that help parents and children understand online safety. Google’s “Abtal Al Internet” and World Vision’s Keep Children Safe Online program provide valuable tools for teaching children about digital citizenship and protection.
At SEED, we are committed to creating a future where everyone can thrive—online and offline. With support from our donor Safe Online, we hope to raise awareness, build essential skills, and advocate for stronger protection policies and frameworks. We empower families and communities to safely navigate the digital world and protect themselves and their children from online risks.


Together, we can make the internet a safer place, helping children grow, learn, and thrive in a secure digital environment.

For more information and resources on SEED’s online violence prevention initiatives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, visit our website.