Safer Internet Day 2026 in Ireland

Safer Internet Day 2026 was marked by a national stakeholder event hosted by the Irish Safer Internet Centre and Webwise at the Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs. The theme, AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control, focused on empowering children and young people to navigate AI safely and responsibly.

The event was opened by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD, who highlighted the importance of equipping young people with the skills to navigate an AI influenced world. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Mhairi Aitken of the Alan Turing Institute, along with additional insights from Professor Sonia Livingstone, London School of Economics; and Ireland’s Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett, Coimisiún na Meán.

The discussions took an evidence-based look at the real risks and harms emerging today, and looked at the path forward, focussing on the practical steps, policy pathways, and solutions needed to ensure generative AI technologies are safe and age-appropriate for children. The contributors provided perspectives from research, education, parenting, and young people’s insights with contributions from Dr. Claudette Pretorius of University College Dublin; Mark Smyth, Senior Clinical Psychologist; Róisín Ingle – columnist, features writer and podcaster with The Irish Times, and parent.; Dr Barry Scannell  – Partner, William Fry LLP; Anthony Kilcoyne – Oide Technology in Education; and representatives from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel.

Here are just some of the highlights! 

• Digital Heroes Day: Brusna NS, Co. Roscommon
  Pupils will take part in a fun, interactive day featuring lessons from WEBWISE and a local Garda visit to talk about internet safety. Parents will also be invited to join the session and receive information about online safety.

• A week of events – Being Kind & Keeping Safe Online: The Reco Youth Centre
  Throughout the week, young people aged 10–24 will engage in quizzes, videos, and group activities to explore internet safety. Our Community & Detached Team will also bring the theme out into the streets, reaching approximately 400 young people across various sessions.

• AI at the Academy: Smart, Safe and In Control: Patrician Academy Mallow, Co. Cork
  Students will take part in a range of AI-focused activities, including an escape room for 1st years, a Garda “Connect Safely” talk for 2nd years, and interviews, surveys, and informational sessions for staff, parents, and students. Other activities include student-led lunchtime sessions, deepfake exercises with older adults, real vs. not real exercises with special classes, a walking debate with senior students, and an AI poster competition with art classes.

• AI: Cool Tech, Careful Choices: Scoil Chonaill, Co. Donegal
  Children will explore artificial intelligence (AI) through games, stories, and hands-on activities. They will learn how AI can help with learning, creativity, and play, while also understanding the importance of critical thinking and safe, responsible technology use. The session encourages questions, teamwork, and discussion.
  
• Digital Citizenship in Action: St. Patrick’s N.S, Co. Cork
  Students will explore different aspects of online safety: 1st/2nd class will consider online reliability, 3rd/4th class will focus on wellbeing online, and 5th/6th class will examine false information and disinformation using online resources. Buddy reading, presentations, and interactive exercises will take place throughout the week.
  
• If You Wouldn’t Show Your Granny It, Then Don’t Post It!:  Ballylooby NS, Co. Tipperary
  Children will reflect on responsible online behaviour and consider what is appropriate to share on the internet, promoting safe and respectful digital habits.
  
  

Visit the interactive SID Events Map to view what happened in your area!  

SID Ambassador Training Programme

Over 100 post-primary students schools across Ireland took part in this year’s Webwise SID Ambassador Programme. This year the training programme had a hybrid format with online training sessions, and an in-person training day which took place in Google HQ in Dublin. During the in-person training, students received valuable guidance and support from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel. The programme empowers students with the knowledge and skills to run their own online safety campaigns in their schools and local communities for Safer Internet Day.  

A Special Guest Panel Discussion featured Elaine Burke, Journalist, broadcaster and consultant; Comedian, Rachel Galvo; and Dr. Donal Mulligan, lecturer and researcher at Dublin City University’s School of Communications.

The informative panel discussion explored the opportunities and challenges of Generative AI, and and Q&A with the SID Ambassador students.

The young people led an incredible range of initiatives to raise awareness of online safety in their schools for Safer Internet Day 2026.  

New resources to mark Safer Internet Day

For parents:

On Safer Internet Day, Webwise published a new resource for parents. A Parents’ Guide to Generative AI was developed in collaboration with the ADAPT Centre and the National Parents Council, which provides practical advice and guidance to support families to safely and responsibly navigate generative AI.

The guide highlights the views of both young people and parents on the benefits and challenges of this technology, and recommendations for what changes they would like to see.

It provides an overview of the opportunities and the risks associated with generative AI, and provides advice and talking points for parents to help them support their child to be safe and responsible when using generative AI.

For young people:

Co-created by the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel, a new resource is being developed to help young people be AI Aware. The resource is a youth friendly video and poster that provides teenagers with a checklist and advice from the Youth Panel about how they can be AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control.

Visit the Safer Internet Day Hub to learn more!