Kids in Cyber®

In this episode of Kids in Cyber, we are joined by Kieran Donovan, CEO of K-ID, to explore one of the biggest questions facing the digital world today: should there be stricter age restrictions for children online, and if so, how would that actually work in practice? The conversation explores age verification, age assurance, gaming age-gating systems, proposed under-16 social media bans, privacy concerns, parental responsibility, and the wider challenge of balancing safety, freedom and access in digital spaces. Rather than focusing on fear-based narratives, the episode looks at the practical, ethical, and technical realities behind protecting young people online. A thoughtful discussion on what meaningful digital safety could look like for the next generation.

In this episode of Conversations with Kids in Cyber, we’re joined by Professor Michael Nagel, a specialist in child and adolescent development and learning, and author of over 20 books used in universities worldwide. Screen time has become one of the most debated topics in childhood today, but between headlines, opinions, and conflicting advice, it’s not always clear what’s actually true. In this conversation, we’ll cut through the noise to explore what the latest research really shows, what it doesn’t, and how we should be thinking about children, screens, and brain development.

Roblox has introduced age-based accounts as part of its latest push to improve safety for younger users. At a glance, this is a positive step. Children aged 5–8 are now placed into 'Roblox Kids' accounts, with access limited to content labelled Minimal or Mild, alongside stricter chat controls and enhanced parental settings. The intention is clear: create a safer, more age-appropriate environment. But this raises an important question: What does 'age-appropriate' actually look like in practice? Because when we look beyond the labels, there are clear inconsistencies between how content is presented and how it is experienced by children. Content classified as 'Minimal' can still include: Horror-style themes Unsettling characters Imagery that may not align with expectations for younger users This creates a gap between what parents believe their children are accessing, and what they are actually seeing. At Kids in Cyber, we believe this highlights a wider issue, children are being placed into digital environments without fully understanding how those environments are designed or how content is categorised. Safety isn’t just about restrictions. It’s about understanding. We’ve written a full article exploring this in more detail. Read more in the comments.

I’ve been deep in conversations with schools, and one thing keeps coming up. Schools want to teach children about technology, AI, and online safety… but they don’t want to increase screen time to do it. That’s exactly why they love Kids in Cyber® We’ve developed a platform that helps schools deliver computing, online safety, and citizenship in a way that is: ➡️ Engaging for pupils ➡️ Easy for teachers to deliver ➡️ Doesn’t rely on putting children on devices We use storytelling, characters, and vicarious learning to bring topics to life, giving children the space to think, question, and develop real understanding of the digital world. It’s not passive learning. It’s about building critical thinking and giving children agency. This approach has been really well received by headteachers and education leads across the UK, and we’re now starting to see interest internationally too. And it’s not just a platform. We also provide CPD for teachers, so schools feel confident delivering these topics in the classroom and embedding them properly across the curriculum. Because the goal isn’t just to tick a box, it’s to make this learning meaningful and lasting. If you’re a school thinking about how to approach digital literacy, AI, and online safety in a way that actually works, created by real cyber experts and reviewed by teachers? I’d love to show you what we’re building. Get in touch to arrange a demo and see how Kids in Cyber could support your school.

We’re really proud to introduce ZOLO, our official Kids in Cyber® ambassador for South Africa. Zolo was created in partnership with Danie van Loggerenberg and the National Centre for Child Protection, and most importantly, inspired by a child who helped bring him to life. This is something that really matters to us. As Kids in Cyber grows, localisation isn’t just about changing content, it’s about ensuring children can see themselves in what they’re learning. Representation builds connection, and connection is what makes learning stick. Our goal is simple: Every child, wherever they are in the world, feels like Kids in Cyber® is for them. Zolo is just the beginning of that journey. You’ll start to see him appear across our materials, and he’ll feature heavily in our upcoming term-time packs, which will be made available free to schools across South Africa. We’re excited to keep building in this space!

Screen time guidance for under 5s is getting a lot of attention, but most of the conversation is focused on limits. In reality, the bigger question is what that screen time looks like. Screens are part of everyday life for young children. They’re not going away. What matters is how they’re used, what they’re replacing, and what children are learning from them. In early years settings, we’re starting to see the impact of these habits forming earlier. Not in extreme ways, but in small shifts in attention, communication, and engagement. This is why early understanding matters. At Kids in Cyber, we believe this isn’t about removing technology, but helping children and families build a better relationship with it from the start. We’ve written a short article exploring the guidance and what it means in practice. Find the article in the comments below:

What happens when the technology designed to connect us begins to compete for our attention? In this special episode of Kids in Cyber: The Conversation, we’re joined by filmmaker Sara Robin, whose new documentary 'Your Attention Please' has just premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. The film explores the growing movement of parents, young innovators, and reformers pushing back against the attention economy and questioning how technology is shaping the lives of children and families. Through powerful personal stories and insights from leading experts, the documentary asks a crucial question: Can we redesign technology to serve humanity instead of capturing our attention? Joining the conversation is Trisha Prabhu, tech innovator and creator of the anti-cyberbullying platform ReThink, who also features in the film.

Can we have 'Your attention please' Tonight we sit down with Sara Robin and Trisha Prabhu to discuss Your Attention Please. Watch the trailer below ahead of tonight. Interested in joining us? Find the link below in the comments section. We can't wait! https://lnkd.in/emhcfUsp

Read our latest article about AI in the classroom, where we discuss why generative AI shouldn't be a child's first exposure to AI. https://lnkd.in/ehW6xXJ4

We’ve started building games for Kids in Cyber to help children learn cyber and online safety concepts through play. We recently tested our first prototype with children, and they loved it. In the game, Kira is in her room getting ready for friends to visit. But there’s a problem… there are personal items everywhere. Players move Kira back and forth across the room with a basket, catching items that contain private information and leaving the things that are safe to share. Seeing children instinctively start spotting what should stay private was really encouraging. This is exactly what we want to build at Kids in Cyber, ways for children to learn real cyber concepts in a way that feels fun, natural and memorable.