Last Updated on 11th March 2026
Welcome Back to Your February Newsletter!
Educate – Empower – Protect
Welcome back to your monthly newsletter! In this edition, you’ll find lots of essential updates and practical advice to make sure you’re making the best possible use of Safer Schools NI. February was a month full of exciting firsts for the whole Safer Schools NI community as we released our brand-new Digital Proficiency Course, keep reading to see how schools have been using it across the regions and hear some reviews!
News and Alerts ℹ️
Key updates and alerts as seen on your app’s news feed.
VPNs and Online Safety
Is a VPN a vital tool for privacy or a hidden gateway to online risk? Our latest essential article, “VPNs: A Tool for Safety or a Gateway to Risk?“, explores the dual nature of Virtual Private Networks. While these services can provide security on public Wi-Fi, they are increasingly being used by children and young people to bypass age-verification measures and school safety filters. Click below to equip yourself with the knowledge to help your students or children navigate the digital world safely.
Navigating the World of AI Companions 🤖
Don’t miss our latest Online Safety Guidance on the evolving world of AI Companions. It breaks down exactly what these platforms are, why children are drawn to them, and the common ways they are being used today. Most importantly, we explore the potential risks and provide practical advice on how to navigate these digital relationships to keep the young people in your care safer.
Supporting Young People’s Wellbeing Every Day 🫂
Following Children’s Mental Health Week in February, we remain committed to protecting young people from harm by addressing the contextual factors that impact their wellbeing. To support their healthy development, we’ve developed resources on critical topics including body image, self-harm, and sexual consent. Read the guidance to help you navigate these sensitive conversations with confidence and care.
Support & Awareness 💞
An eating disorder is a complex mental health condition, that can affect anyone, at any age, from any walk of life. To help you navigate this topic, we’ve released guidance which covers the most common types of eating disorders, identifies the subtle signs to watch for, and offers advice on how to support the wellbeing of the children and young people in your care.
✨Read more within your Online Safety Guidance section of the App.✨
Technical Support 👩🏼💻
Updates and tips from our Support Centre.
Navigating your App 📲
New to the Safer Schools NI app or need a refresher? Watch our quick 4-minute video on how to navigate the app to champion these resources and become an online safety expert! Our app is easy to use and jam-packed with helpful, practical information and advice, all at your fingertips. Don’t miss out on the support found in your pocket!
Click the button below to access these quick how-to videos.
Don’t forget the Safer Schools NI app is now available as a Web App for all roles too!
Community News and Updates 📢
The latest in the locality
Digital Proficiency Course in Schools 🏫
To celebrate the launch of our Digital Proficiency Course, we recently had the fantastic opportunity to visit Royal School Dungannon.
It was a privilege to deliver a teacher-led session with their Year 12 pupils, who engaged brilliantly with the material. The feedback was incredibly encouraging, with the students sharing a very positive outlook on the course and its impact on their digital lives.
Quotes from the young people
I liked the test at the end, because it challenged me to remember the things we’ve actually learned
I really like what we got to learn about AI, [as] it’s something that our generation really does deal with and the different things that can [help] identify AI was really helpful
Quote from a Primary School Teacher, Head of ICT
I genuinely believe this should be essential viewing for every parent, child and educator across the country. The content is highly relevant, incredibly important and delivered in a clear, accessible format.
Get started today by simply tapping the Digital Proficiency Course in your mobile or web app.
Resource Highlight ✨
The ready-to-use, relevant resource you need
Digital Proficiency Success! 🌟
This month we’re celebrating our wonderful Safer Schools community’s success with the Digital Proficiency Course. From launch day on the 5th February, thousands of tests have been completed! We are so delighted that so many of you have seized the opportunity to ensure you and your whole school community feel educated, empowered and protected on the online world.
Due to popular demand and to ensure that every school has ample time to complete the course and test, we’re extending the duration of the course’s open time to the beginning of the summer holidays.
Have you completed the Digital Proficiency Course and Test yet? Make online safety a priority in your home to ensure everyone feels empowered to tackle digital risks. In just 30 minutes, you can feel more confident and equipped to master the tools and address the risks the children in your care encounter every day.
Your school needs your participation to receive the Certified Safer School status! Find the course in your app today!
Media News 🗞️
Safeguarding and Online Safety News
🚨 Instagram to alert parents if teens search for self-harm and suicide content – Starting in March 2026, Instagram will begin proactively alerting parents if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm. These notifications will include expert resources to help families navigate these sensitive conversations and provide immediate support.
⚠️ Teen phone survey results ‘pretty shocking’ – MP – A new survey of UK teenagers found that 60% have been contacted by strangers online, with over a third reporting experiences of bullying or blackmail. These findings are driving urgent calls for stricter social media regulations and age-appropriate safety measures for young users.
🤖 Ofcom Update: Investigation into X, and scope of the Online Safety Act – UK regulator Ofcom is investigating X after its AI chatbot was used to create harmful deepfakes, warning that many AI tools currently fall outside of official safety laws. Parents are urged to monitor AI use closely and report any inappropriate content as the government works to close these regulatory gaps.
⏱️ Tech firms will have to take down abusive images within 48 hours under new law to protect women and girls – New laws will require tech companies to remove abusive and non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours to better protect women and girls from online harassment. Platforms that fail to act quickly face massive fines as the government ramps up pressure on social media safety.
⚠️ Deep fakes are in our classrooms – and they’re ruining lives – AI-generated deepfakes have been on the rise within Northern Ireland schools, where manipulated sexualized images are being used to target and harass female pupils. Police have launched criminal investigations into these incidents, warning that such “insidious” technology is causing long-lasting harm to young victims.
🛡️ Fibrus launches campaign to keep Northern Ireland children safe online – Fibrus has launched a new online safety campaign in Northern Ireland to protect children from digital threats through expert-led workshops for families and schools.
License, Links and Logins 🔑
All the information you need to access the world of Safer Schools NI at your fingertips!
Did you know…
“Seven in ten (70%) children aged 11-17 had seen or heard some form of content harmful to children”
Source: Ofcom 2025
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