Mini webinars offering practical support to help parents and carers recognise and respond to key online harms
As the online world continues to change, many families tell us it can feel difficult to know where to start or how best to support their child online. These mini webinars offer clear, practical advice that can be used at home. They explore key issues children and young people may face online, helping you feel more confident supporting your child.
They are designed for parents and carers, and may also be helpful for wider family members and professionals supporting children and young people.
The content has been shaped by feedback from families across Northern Ireland, so it reflects real life concerns they experience.
The mini webinar series has been created by online safety experts at Childnet and funded and supported by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), with input and review from partner organisations, under the NI Executive’s Online Safety Strategy.
What to expect
Each video:
- lasts around 15-20 minutes
- focuses on one topic at a time
- can be watched when it suits you
They include:
- practical tips you can use at home
- conversation starters to support everyday discussions
- clear explanations of key terms
- links to further support and guidance
What parents and carers told us
“I don’t feel very empowered about any topic – it’s all quite overwhelming and a daily struggle.”
“Group chats sharing photos of girls and people in the class and sharing photos with people they think are friends.”
“Images being shared in school, sextortion, people contacting them online using fake accounts, online bullying, seeing sexist comments online.”
“Swearing and bullying online, seeing X rated videos or being asked to share videos of themselves.”
Mini webinar topics
Privacy settings and parental controls
Group chats and peer pressure
Online bullying and sexual harassment
Nude image sharing
Grooming, catfishing and sextortion
Online pornography and misogyny
Understand how children may come across harmful or inappropriate content, and how to respond calmly and confidently.
How the mini webinars can be used
They are designed to be flexible and easy to fit into everyday life.
They can be:
- watched by families and professionals at a time that suits them
- shared by education settings, youth organisations and services through websites, newsletters or social media
- used to support parent information sessions or workshops
- signposted during conversations with families
Resources to support sharing
Newsletter text
Online safety mini webinars for parents and carers
Short mini webinars offering practical support to help parents and carers recognise and respond to key online harms.
Supporting children online can sometimes feel challenging, especially as the digital world continues to change.
Each mini webinar lasts around 15-20 minutes and includes practical tips, conversation starters and signposting to further support. They are suitable for parents, carers, wider family members and professionals supporting children and young people.
Topics include privacy settings and parental controls, group chats and peer pressure, online bullying, image sharing, harmful content and online grooming – covering everything from everyday online use to more serious risks.
Created by Childnet and supported by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), the mini webinars reflect real life experiences shared by families.
Staff intranet text
Online safety mini webinars - supporting families
A series of short online safety mini webinars is now available to support families in Northern Ireland with key online safety issues affecting children and young people.
Each mini webinar is around 15-20 minutes long, easy to follow, and includes practical tips, conversation starters and signposting to further support. They are suitable for parents, carers, wider family members and professionals supporting children and young people.
Created by online safety experts at Childnet and supported by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), the webinars cover topics including privacy settings and parental controls, group chats and peer pressure, online bullying, image sharing, harmful content and online grooming.
These resources can help staff to have more confident conversations with families and provide a clear, trusted place to signpost for advice and support.
Colleagues are encouraged to watch, use and share these resources with families, and promote them through routine communications.
Further advice, resources and support for families, professionals and young people are available on the SBNI Online Safety Hub – Northern Ireland’s central resource for online safety.
Parents and carers email letter
Subject: Online safety mini webinars for parents and carers
Dear Parents and Carers,
Supporting children online can feel challenging at times, especially as the digital world continues to change.
Six short online safety mini webinars are now available for families in Northern Ireland. These have been created by online safety experts at Childnet and supported by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI). Each mini webinar lasts around 15-20 minutes and includes practical tips, conversation starters and signposting to further support.
The webinars explore key issues such as privacy settings and parental controls, group chats and peer pressure, online bullying, image sharing, harmful content and online grooming, covering everything from everyday online use to more serious risks. The content has been shaped by feedback from local families, so it reflects real life concerns and experiences.
Parents, carers and wider family members are encouraged to explore the webinars at a time that suits them, and to share them with others who support their child.
Further advice, resources and support for families, professionals and young people are available on the SBNI Online Safety Hub – Northern Ireland’s central resource for online safety.
Social media text
Short versions
Navigating online safety with your child?
Online safety mini webinars, created by Childnet and the Safeguarding Board for NI can help parents and carers recognise and respond to key online harms.
Supporting your child online?
Short online safety mini webinars (around 15–20 mins) offer clear advice to help families recognise and respond to online risks, with signposting to further support.
Medium version
Supporting children online can feel challenging, especially as the digital world continues to change.
A series of short online safety mini webinars is now available to help families support children and young people online.
Each session is around 15-20 minutes long, easy to follow, and includes tips, conversation starters and signposting to further support. Topics include privacy settings, group chats and peer pressure, online bullying, image sharing, harmful content and online grooming.
Further advice and support is available via the SBNI Online Safety Hub
Long version
As children’s online experiences change, it can be difficult to know how best to support them.
A series of short online safety mini webinars is now available to help families support children and young people online. Created by online safety experts at Childnet and supported by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), the videos offer clear, everyday guidance.
Each mini webinar is around 15–20 minutes long, easy to follow, and includes practical tips, conversation starters and signposting to further support.
Topics include privacy settings and parental controls, group chats and peer pressure, online bullying, image sharing, harmful content and online grooming – covering both everyday online experiences and more serious risks, and helping families feel more confident recognising and responding to them.
👉 Watch the mini webinars on the Online Safety Hub
Further advice, resources and support for families, professionals and young people are available on the SBNI Online Safety Hub, Northern Ireland’s central resource for online safety.