The government’s Online Safety Bill aims to make digital platforms safer for children and young people by limiting access to harmful material. Whilst it makes its way through Parliament however, local authorities and the education and charity sectors must work in partnership to use innovative strategies to monitor digital trends and tackle online harms head-on.

Reducing young people’s exposure to online harms relies on supporting their independent digital resilience. This can be challenging, given the evolving nature of the online environment which demands frequent reviews to online safety lessons. Encouraging parents and carers to reinforce digital skills at home is also vital. Public sector safeguarding requires a concerted effort to address these challenges, in order to equip young people with the skills to live healthy lives and protect themselves online.

• Data from the Internet Watch Foundation shows that online sexual abuse of children rose nearly 60% between 2020 and 2021
• 1 in 5 10–15 year-olds experienced online bullying in 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics
• Suicide helpline Papyrus reported that 1 in 3 calls during the pandemic were from under 18s, citing pressure from social media

This one day online conference will allow delegates to hear the latest national trends and policy updates for keeping young people safe online. Learn from best practice case studies from schools, charities and local government in their experience of implementing effective safeguarding strategies. Topical themes include harmful social media content, cyberbullying, and online sexual abuse. You will also have the opportunity to network with other senior colleagues, exchanging ideas for tackling online harms.

Why attend:
• Expert keynotes on the latest legislative updates and national trends in young people’s social media use
• Practical guidance for building a multi-agency safeguarding partnership and online safety strategies
• Best practice case studies discussing how to tackle various online harms
• Network with senior colleagues discussing how best to support young people online
• 4 CPD points towards your yearly quota.