Safer Internet Day 2026
10th February 2026
A record number of children and young people in schools all across Ireland are participating in Safer Internet Day 2026!
From lessons and workshops to poster competitions and podcasts, students, schools, and organisations are taking part in this annual global day of focus which calls upon all stakeholders to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, especially for children and young people.
Safer Internet Day in Ireland is coordinated by the Irish Safer Internet Centre, a partnership between Webwise, ISPCC, National Parents Council, and Irish Internet Hotline, providing a range of complementary online safety services, including an education and awareness centre, child and parent helplines and a hotline. The Centre is coordinated by the Department of Justice and co-funded by the European Union.
This year’s Safer Internet Day theme is AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control. It explores how AI technologies shape children’s online experiences, highlighting both the benefits and the risks. The theme aims to empower pupils to use AI safely and responsibly.
From Tea and Tech to Dare to Care and Spot the Bot, there are hundreds of creative activities and events taking place to raise awareness of a wide range of key online safety topics.
Find out what is happening in your area by visiting the SID Events Map. (Link: https://www.webwise.ie/saferinternetday/safer-internet-day-events-in-ireland/ )
It is not too late to get involved as Safer Internet Day activities are taking place throughout February. Visit the Safer Internet Day Hub (Link: https://www.webwise.ie/saferinternetday/ ) to access the new AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control lessons for primary and post-primary schools, get ideas, order free resources, and more.
Safer Internet Day 2026 Event – AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control
Safer Internet Day also sees an event taking place in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to bring key stakeholders together to explore ways to help children and young people be safe and responsible in a complex world increasingly shaped by AI tools and digital technology.
Discussions will focus on ways to safeguard children online, reflect on the current state of play of GenAI, and finally to empower children and young people to thrive in the digital world through active participation and education.
Hosted by Gavan Reilly (Virgin Media), there will be keynote address from Dr Mhairi Aitken; Senior Ethics Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute (the UK’s national institute for AI and data science). There will also be contributions from Online Safety Commissioner; Niamh Hodnett (Coimisiún na Meán), Professor Sonia Livingstone, (London School of Economics and Political Science), Dr Claudette Pretorius, Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin (UCD), 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 members of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel.
New Safer Internet Day Resources for Schools and Parents
Introduce AI literacy to your classroom using the new Webwise lessons, available for both primary and post-primary schools, focus on emerging technologies, especially AI. Students will learn about Generative AI, its benefits, risks, and safe, responsible use. These new resources were developed in collaboration with Dublin City University, with special thanks to Dr Dónal Mulligan.
There is also a new resource for parents, A Parents’ Guide to Generative AI developed by Webwise in collaboration with the ADAPT Centre and the National Parents Council. It provides practical advice and guidance on safely and responsibly navigating GenAI.
Learn more about these and all the other activities and supports by visiting the Webwise Safer Internet Day Hub (Link: https://www.webwise.ie/saferinternetday/v)
