NetSupport releases new Online Safety Resources for Safer Internet Day 2026
As the digital landscape continues to evolve with the rapid rise of AI and complex online threats, NetSupport is proud to support Safer Internet Day 2026. The focus this year is “Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI” and whilst that is a very important focus, there’s a lot to consider.
To coincide with Safer Internet Day, we’ve released new resources designed to help schools, teachers and parents navigate the digital world securely. We’ve broken things down a bit for you with a series of resources to help, not just for one day of the year, but for every day, because every day should be a Safer Internet Day.
2026 Safeguarding Guide
Our newly released 2026 Safeguarding Guide is a comprehensive guide that provides essential information for all stakeholders involved in a child’s digital life, from senior leaders and governors to teachers and parents.
12 Online Safety Habits Infographic
At NetSupport, we understand that online safety education doesn’t end when students leave school. Parents are pivotal in safeguarding children at home. We’ve just made it a bit easier with our checklist of simple actions parents can take at home to build a safer digital environment.
Online safety throughout the year
Then, to help both schools and parents (because IT takes a village, right?) we’ve broken down the calendar year with a variety of issues for coverage and given you both content you can copy and paste directly into your monthly school newsletters (below) and a handy infographic to refer to and share with parents, too.
We begin with February 2026 (for Safer Internet Day) and take you right through to January 2027, covering all the important points to give you the confidence you’re doing the right things to help keep your children safer online, while providing them with the knowledge to enable them to do so, too.
February
What is Safer Internet Day and why is it important?
Safer Internet Day is a useful moment to pause and talk about what being safe online really means. Instead of focusing on fear or worst-case scenarios, this is a chance for parents and children to talk together about how the internet fits into daily life.
You might ask your child what they enjoy doing online, what helps them feel safe, and whom they would talk to if something did not feel right. It is also a good opportunity to explain that much of what appears online is shaped by technology working behind the scenes. Framing Safer Internet Day as a shared conversation helps children to think of online safety as collaborative activity.
March
Setting up parental controls together
Parental controls are most effective when they are set up with your child rather than applied without explanation. Sit together and explore device, app or game settings, talking about what each option does and why it exists. Involving your child in decisions about age ratings, spending limits or privacy settings helps them understand boundaries and how choices influence what they see online.
This shared approach builds trust and supports your child to develop confidence in managing digital spaces over time, rather than seeing controls as fixed rules that never change.
April
Talking about what your child enjoys doing online
Children’s online experiences are often shaped by recommendation systems that notice what they watch, play or click on and then suggest more of the same – and not just on social media.
Take time to ask your child what they enjoy most online and how new content finds them. Talking about why certain videos, games or accounts keep appearing helps children understand that online feeds are not random. These conversations build awareness and encourage your child to make more considered and deliberate choices, rather than feeling carried along by endless suggestions that can lead to doom scrolling.
May
Understanding privacy and personal information
Privacy can feel abstract online, particularly when sharing is encouraged. Talk with your child about what counts as personal information and why it matters, including how data can be collected and used to personalise online experiences.
Discuss how photos, usernames, locations and messages can spread beyond their original audience. Exploring these ideas together helps your child understand that privacy is about protection, not secrecy, and supports thoughtful decision-making as digital platforms become more personalised.
June
Kindness, behaviour and online disinhibition
Online spaces can make people behave differently than they would face to face. Talk with your child about why some people say or do things online that they might not say in person, including how distance, anonymity and screens can reduce empathy and self-control. This idea, often called online disinhibition, helps explain why comments can feel harsher or more extreme online. Consider discussing how tone and humour are easily misunderstood and why pausing before posting matters.
These conversations support your child to act thoughtfully online and enable them to step away from spaces that feel unkind.
July
Screen time and finding balance
Rather than focusing on strict limits, it can be more helpful to talk about how screens fit into everyday life. Use this month to notice routines together and reflect on when technology supports learning, creativity or relaxation, and when it becomes hard to switch off. You might also talk about how apps, games and platforms are designed to hold attention through notifications, autoplay and rewards.
Understanding this helps your child recognise why balance can be difficult and helps them form shared decisions about healthier habits.
August
Gaming and in-game features
Gaming plays a significant role in many children’s online lives, and many games use intelligent systems to personalise rewards and challenges. Take time to explore the games your child enjoys and talk about features such as chat, in-game purchases, rewards and social pressure. Asking your child to explain how games work builds understanding and trust.
Conversations about spending, competition and design choices help children recognise how games encourage continued play, without framing gaming as a problem.
September
Group chats and social spaces
Group chats and online spaces are central to friendships, but not every interaction represents a real or equal relationship. Talk with your child about how group chats work, how messages can be forwarded or shared, and how some online interactions, such as influencers, automated replies or AI-driven characters, can feel personal without being genuine friendships.
Helping your child understand these differences supports healthier expectations and more confident navigation of digital relationships.
October
Knowing what to do when something feels wrong online
Children need to know that support is available if they encounter something upsetting or worrying online.
Talk with your child about practical actions such as blocking, muting and reporting, and reinforce that asking for help is always the right thing to do. Parents may also wish to be aware of trusted routes such as the Report Remove tool from the Internet Watch Foundation, which helps young people remove images shared online. Focusing on reassurance and action builds confidence rather than fear.
November
Adult role modelling and digital habits
Children learn a great deal from observing how adults use technology. This month is an opportunity to reflect together on family device habits, including notifications, scrolling and personalised feeds.
Talking openly with your child about how algorithms influence adult behaviour helps normalise critical thinking and shows that managing technology is an ongoing process. Modelling thoughtful behaviour does not mean being perfect, but it does show that healthy habits are something everyone continues to work on.
December
Sleep, screens and switching off
Good sleep supports wellbeing, mood and learning, and digital habits play an important role in evening routines.
Talk with your child about winding down before bed and how screens, notifications and blue light can affect sleep. Discuss why platforms are designed to keep attention late into the evening, and how shared routines can help everyone switch off. Approaching this as a collective habit helps children understand the purpose behind change and supports better sleep for the whole family.
January
Keeping the conversation going
Online safety works best when it is part of everyday family life rather than a one-off talk. Use this month to reflect with your child on what has changed online, including new apps, features or AI-driven tools they may encounter. Reinforce that no one has all the answers, and that asking questions together is a strength.
Keeping conversations open and ongoing helps families adapt confidently as digital spaces continue to evolve. Learn more and access our complete catalog of free safeguarding resources and the 2026 Safeguarding Guide.