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Essential Guide to Online Safety and Digital Learning

Online safety means helping children use digital spaces safely, confidently and responsibly.

About this guide

Online safety means helping children use digital spaces safely, confidently and responsibly.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Online sexual abuse or grooming can be reported to CEOP. If you think a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, contact children's social care through the local council.

1. Online Safety for Children

2026 legal context: the Online Safety Act places duties on regulated online services to assess whether children are likely to access their service and, where they are, to assess risks and put protections in place. Ofcom is the regulator for these duties.

Online safety means helping children use digital spaces safely, confidently and responsibly.

Children should be supported to understand:

  • Not everyone online is who they say they are
  • Personal information should be protected
  • Harmful content should be reported
  • Private images should not be shared
  • Bullying online is still bullying
  • Pressure, threats or blackmail should be reported
  • It is never too late to ask for help

Useful links:

2. Social Media Safety

Privacy by default: the ICO Children's Code says online services likely to be accessed by children should provide high-privacy settings by default, switch non-essential geolocation off by default and avoid encouraging children to weaken privacy protections.

Social media can help children connect, learn and express themselves, but it also carries risks.

Safety steps include:

  • Use private accounts
  • Avoid sharing school, address or location details
  • Do not accept unknown contacts
  • Block and report abusive users
  • Think before posting
  • Avoid sharing personal images
  • Talk to a trusted adult if pressured or threatened

Parents and carers can:

  • Talk regularly without blame
  • Review privacy settings together
  • Check platform age guidance
  • Agree family rules
  • Encourage children to report concerns early

Useful links:

3. Gaming Safety

Online games are covered too. The ICO Children's Code can apply to online games likely to be accessed by children, and in-scope gaming/social services may also have duties under the Online Safety Act.

Gaming can support problem-solving, teamwork and social connection, but risks may include contact with strangers, bullying, spending pressure, scams, inappropriate content and excessive use.

Safety tips:

  • Check age ratings
  • Use parental controls
  • Limit in-game spending
  • Disable unknown contact where needed
  • Report abusive players
  • Avoid voice chat with strangers
  • Keep gaming in shared spaces for younger children
  • Discuss healthy breaks and sleep

Useful links:

4. Cyberbullying

Evidence warning: screenshots can help with ordinary abusive messages, usernames and posts. But if material is a nude or sexual image of someone under 18, do not create extra copies by forwarding, printing or taking additional screenshots of the sexual image itself. Preserve surrounding details and report it promptly.

Cyberbullying includes online harassment, threats, exclusion, humiliation, fake accounts, abusive messages, image sharing or spreading rumours.

Children should:

  • Not respond to abusive messages where possible
  • Screenshot evidence
  • Block and report the account
  • Tell a trusted adult
  • Report to school if pupils are involved
  • Contact police if there are threats, stalking, hate crime or image abuse

Useful links:

5. Online Grooming

Grooming can be a safeguarding and criminal matter. If there is immediate danger call 999. Online sexual abuse, grooming or exploitation can be reported to CEOP. A school should also use safeguarding procedures where a pupil is affected.

Online grooming is when someone builds trust with a child to exploit, abuse or manipulate them. Groomers may pretend to be young, offer gifts, request secrecy, ask for images, move conversations to private apps or threaten the child.

Warning signs may include:

  • Secretive online behaviour
  • Sudden gifts or money
  • Older contacts
  • Withdrawal from family
  • Distress after being online
  • Sexualised conversations
  • Fear of consequences
  • Pressure to send images

Report concerns immediately.

Useful links:

6. Sexting Risks

Current safeguarding terminology: education guidance commonly refers to “sharing nudes and semi-nudes”. Do not blame the child or ask them to resend an image as evidence. Schools should refer incidents immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and follow UK Council for Internet Safety guidance.

“Sexting” often means sending or receiving sexual images, videos or messages. Children may be pressured, tricked, threatened or blackmailed into sharing images.

Important message for children:

  • You are not to blame if someone pressures or threatens you.
  • Do not send more images or money.
  • Save evidence.
  • Tell a trusted adult.
  • Report it.

Useful links:

7. Digital Learning

Schools and colleges: DfE digital standards say education settings should provide a safe digital environment. Filtering should protect pupils from illegal and harmful material without unreasonably restricting teaching and learning.

Digital learning can include:

  • Online classrooms
  • Homework platforms
  • Revision websites
  • Educational videos
  • E-books
  • Assistive technology
  • Online tutoring
  • Virtual school resources

Helpful learning resources:

For children with SEND, digital learning may support communication, reading, writing, organisation, sensory access and independence.

8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

2026 AI safety update: DfE generative AI product safety standards were updated on 19 January 2026, including standards relating to cognitive development, emotional and social development, mental health and manipulation. Schools should also consider safeguarding, privacy, age restrictions, filtering and monitoring when pupils use AI.
Assessed work: Ofqual published AI-in-coursework resources in March 2026. Using AI to generate assessed coursework without proper disclosure can amount to malpractice and can result in serious qualification consequences.

AI tools can help with learning, planning, revision, accessibility and creativity, but they must be used safely and honestly.

AI may help learners:

  • Break down difficult topics
  • Create revision questions
  • Practise explanations
  • Summarise notes
  • Plan essays
  • Support spelling or structure
  • Generate ideas

Risks include:

  • Inaccurate information
  • Overreliance
  • Plagiarism
  • Sharing personal data
  • Biased content
  • Inappropriate content
  • Breaching school rules

Good practice:

  • Check school AI policy
  • Do not submit AI work as your own
  • Verify facts using trusted sources
  • Do not enter private information
  • Use AI as support, not replacement learning
  • Parents should supervise younger children

Useful links:

9. Screen Time

Focus on impact, not just a timer. Sleep, physical activity, family life, mood, school engagement, content type and the quality of online interaction all matter when judging whether digital use is healthy.

Screen time is not only about the number of hours. The type of activity, content, sleep, mood, physical activity and family routines also matter.

Healthy screen habits include:

  • Regular breaks
  • No screens before sleep where possible
  • Balance with outdoor activity
  • Shared rules
  • Age-appropriate content
  • Device-free mealtimes
  • Monitoring mood after online use
  • Encouraging offline friendships and hobbies

Seek help if screen use affects sleep, school, mood, safety or family life.

Useful links:

10. Parental Controls

Controls are one layer, not a complete solution. Parental controls, filtering and device restrictions work best alongside age-appropriate conversations, trust, privacy education and clear routes for a child to ask for help.

Parental controls can help manage:

  • Content filtering
  • Screen time
  • App downloads
  • In-app purchases
  • Contact with strangers
  • Location sharing
  • Privacy settings

They should be used alongside conversation, trust and education.

Useful links:

11. Online Privacy

Children have data-protection rights. The ICO Children's Code contains 15 standards for online services likely to be accessed by children, including best interests, transparency, data minimisation, high privacy by default, geolocation controls and safeguards around profiling and nudges.

Children and young people should understand that online information can be copied, shared and difficult to remove.

Protect privacy by:

  • Using strong passwords
  • Turning off location sharing
  • Keeping accounts private
  • Avoiding personal details in usernames
  • Not sharing school, address or phone number
  • Thinking before posting images
  • Checking app permissions
  • Reporting impersonation or fake accounts

Useful links:

12. Legal Rights

Different laws can overlap. Online incidents may engage safeguarding law, education duties, data-protection law, Equality Act protections, the Online Safety Act and criminal law at the same time. The correct reporting route depends on what happened and whether there is immediate risk.

Children and families may have rights relating to:

  • Protection from abuse and exploitation
  • Protection from bullying and harassment
  • Safeguarding
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Equality and disability discrimination
  • Reasonable adjustments for digital learning
  • Safe use of school technology
  • Complaints and accountability routes

Possible legal areas include:

  • Safeguarding law
  • Education law
  • Equality Act 2010
  • Data protection law
  • Criminal law for threats, grooming, stalking, hate crime or image abuse

Useful links:

13. Evidence Standards

Sexual-image exception: do not preserve illegal sexual imagery by creating additional copies. Record the account name, platform, URL, date/time, surrounding messages and police/CEOP reference where appropriate, but avoid forwarding or reproducing the sexual image itself.

If online harm occurs, keep evidence safely.

Useful evidence includes:

  • Screenshots
  • Usernames
  • Profile links
  • Dates and times
  • Messages
  • Images or videos, where lawful and safe to retain
  • Platform reports
  • School reports
  • Police reference numbers
  • Witness details
  • Timeline of incidents
  • Impact on attendance, wellbeing or learning

Do not forward illegal images. Seek advice from police, CEOP, Childline or NSPCC.

A good report should explain:

  • What happened
  • Where it happened
  • Who was involved
  • Whether the child is at immediate risk
  • What evidence exists
  • What action has already been taken
  • What support is needed

14. Accountability & Complaints

Use the right route. A school complaint is different from a safeguarding referral, police report, CEOP report, platform complaint, ICO data-protection complaint or Ofcom regulatory concern. Do not delay urgent safeguarding action while completing a school complaints process.

If the issue involves school pupils, school devices, school platforms or education impact:

  1. Report to the school safeguarding lead.
  2. Provide evidence.
  3. Ask for the online safety or anti-bullying policy.
  4. Ask how the child will be protected.
  5. Request a written action plan.
  6. Use the school complaints policy if unresolved.
  7. Report criminal or safeguarding concerns to police, CEOP or children’s services.
  8. Escalate to governors, academy trust, local authority or Ofsted where appropriate.

Useful links:

15. Quick Help Directory

Immediate danger

999

Online grooming or sexual abuse

https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

Report harmful online content

https://reportharmfulcontent.com/

Remove nude images shared online

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/report-remove/

Online safety advice

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/ https://saferinternet.org.uk/ https://www.internetmatters.org/

Cyberbullying

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/online-bullying/ https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/

Parental controls

https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/ https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/parental-controls/

Privacy and data rights

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/children/ https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/

Digital learning

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize https://www.thenational.academy/ https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services

AI in education

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education

Key Message

Digital learning and online life can be positive, creative and empowering when children are supported to stay safe, protect privacy and ask for help. Online harm should be taken seriously, evidence should be saved carefully, and safeguarding concerns should be reported quickly. Schools, families and services should work together to protect children while helping them build confidence, responsibility and digital skills.

Current online-safety update • 2026

What Has Changed for Children Online?

Online Safety Act – Child Protection Duties

Ofcom says in-scope user-to-user and search services must assess whether children are likely to access them. If they are, providers must carry out a children's risk assessment, put protections in place and keep those protections under review.

Ofcom Child Protection Duties

School Safeguarding – 1 September 2026

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 comes into force on 1 September 2026. Until 31 August, schools and colleges continue to use the 2025 guidance.

KCSIE 2026

Filtering & Monitoring – 25 August 2026

DfE updated its filtering and monitoring core standard on 25 August 2026. Schools and colleges have safeguarding responsibilities online and offline and should use appropriate filtering and monitoring without unnecessarily restricting learning.

Filtering & Monitoring Standard

Children's Privacy

The ICO Children's Code requires child-appropriate privacy protections for online services likely to be accessed by children, including high-privacy defaults and non-essential location tracking switched off by default.

ICO Children's Code
AI in education • 2026

Using Artificial Intelligence Safely in Learning

AI can be useful for explanations, accessibility, revision, brainstorming and formative practice, but schools should manage it as both a learning tool and a safeguarding/data-protection risk.

Age & Supervision

DfE says pupils should only use generative AI in education settings where appropriate safeguards are in place. Schools should comply with age restrictions set by the service and consider supervision, filtering, monitoring and safeguarding policies.

DfE AI in Education Guidance

AI Product Safety Standards

DfE safety standards were updated on 19 January 2026. They cover content moderation, security, privacy, cognitive development, emotional development, mental health and manipulation.

AI Product Safety Standards

Personal Data & AI

DfE school data-protection guidance, updated on 9 July 2026, addresses the data risks of generative AI. Schools should not put personal data into AI tools unless there is a lawful, properly protected reason.

AI & Data Protection in Schools

AI & Coursework

Ofqual March 2026 resources warn that students must not use AI to generate coursework and present it as their own work without proper disclosure. That can be malpractice and may affect the qualification.

Ofqual AI & Coursework
Privacy & data

Children's Privacy Rights Online

Apps, games, social media, streaming services and other online services can collect information about location, behaviour, contacts, interests and device use. Children have data-protection rights, and services likely to be accessed by children have additional responsibilities.

High Privacy by Default

The ICO Children's Code says privacy settings should normally be set to high by default unless there is a compelling reason otherwise.

Location

Non-essential geolocation should normally be switched off by default for children under the Children's Code.

Data Minimisation

Online services should collect and retain only the minimum amount of children's personal data needed for the service.

Clear Information

Privacy information should be understandable and appropriate to the child's age, with accessible tools to exercise data rights.

Sexual images & exploitation

Sexual Images, Sextortion, Grooming & Report Remove

Immediate danger: call 999. If a child is being sexually groomed, exploited or pressured online, tell a trusted adult and report the concern promptly. Do not pay a blackmailer and do not send additional images.
Do not create extra copies of a sexual image of someone under 18. Save usernames, URLs, times and surrounding non-image messages where safe, but do not forward, print or screenshot the sexual image itself simply for evidence.

CEOP

Report online sexual abuse, grooming or exploitation involving a child to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection service.

Report to CEOP

Report Remove

Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation provide Report Remove for under-18s who want help reporting nude or sexual images or videos of themselves that have been shared online.

Report Remove

Education Settings

Schools and colleges should follow UK Council for Internet Safety guidance when responding to incidents involving nudes or semi-nudes.

Official Education Guidance

Report Harmful Content

Where platform reporting has not resolved certain harmful online content, Report Harmful Content can provide further guidance and escalation support.

Report Harmful Content
Schools & digital safeguarding

What Schools Should Have in Place – England

Online safety is part of safeguarding. Schools and colleges should understand how pupils use technology and have policies, staff responsibilities, filtering, monitoring and reporting arrangements that reflect their risks.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Serious online harm, grooming, sexual-image incidents and child-on-child abuse should be reported through the school's safeguarding process.

Filtering

Filtering should prevent access to illegal and inappropriate material without unreasonably affecting legitimate teaching and learning.

Monitoring

Monitoring should enable concerning activity on school systems and devices to be identified and acted on promptly.

AI Risk Assessment

DfE 2026 updates specifically require schools to consider generative AI when assessing filtering and monitoring risk.

Official sources

Key Official Online Safety, AI & Privacy Sources

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