🧵 2/2
Listening to conversations like this makes me especially proud of the work we’re doing through DRAGON to contribute to these efforts & to help advance understanding, prevention & protection in this space.
🔗 www.swansea.ac.uk/project-drag...
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlinegroomingawareness
🧵 6/6
As governments worldwide review online safety frameworks, this study underscores the urgency of building protections before abuse occurs.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
🧵 5/6
Monique St. Germain, general counsel for the Centre, notes that relying on criminal law after harm has occurred is no longer enough.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
🧵 4/6
Snapchat, Instagram & Facebook were the platforms most commonly cited.
Young people are increasingly able to bypass safety controls on school & personal devices, despite safeguarding measures being in place.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness
🧵 3/6
Many interactions started on public platforms before being moved into private messaging, making detection & intervention far more difficult.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
🧵 2/6
4 in 5 teens reported unwanted sexual talk online.
Half said they had been sent unwanted nude images.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
🧵 1/6
Surveying more than 1,200 teenagers (ages 13–17) who had experienced online sexual victimisation, the research highlights trends that policymakers, educators & tech companies cannot ignore.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
A new study from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection offers an urgent look at the digital risks facing young people today — & the findings are concerning.
🔗 tinyurl.com/yj3ftez6
🧵👇
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
🧵 4/8
Kids don’t think it’ll happen to them. Manipulation often feels like kindness, not danger. Red flags are easy to ignore when a relationship feels special.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms#Roblox #Minecraft #Fortnite #onlinegaming #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness
🧵 5/5
🛡️ If we are serious about protecting children, we must focus on solutions — not just statistics.
The technology exists. The research exists. The urgency is unmistakable.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention #NSPCC
🧵 4/5
Our research underpins tools and training designed to prevent harm and support practitioners, parents, and law enforcement.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention #NSPCC
🧵 2/5
The message is clear: we need multiple, coordinated safety measures across the entire grooming cycle. No single intervention is enough — but together, they can meaningfully reduce harm.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention #NSPCC
🧵 3/3
The @iwf.org.uk echoed these calls, reminding platforms that, “Safety should be built into all services and platforms from the bottom up, not tacked on as an afterthought.”
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
🧵 1/3
Across the UK, police recorded 7,263 offences in total.
Where the platform was identified:
📱 40% of cases involved Snapchat.
💬 9% each involved WhatsApp and Facebook.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
🧵 3/3
As Roblox sits on the line between gaming & social media, it’s crucial that safety measures evolve as fast as the technology itself.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #digitalsafeguarding #digitalharms #childsafeguarding #childsafety #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness
Over the past few weeks, #Roblox has been making headlines following reports of children being groomed for both child abuse & extremism through the platform.
🔗 tinyurl.com/yu3dytn8
🧵👇
#DRAGON #Roblox #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childsafeguarding #onlinegroomingawareness
🧵 3/4
While some responses aim to de-escalate or maintain rapport, others assert boundaries or reject advances outright.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #linguistics #langsky #forensiclinguistics #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness #childsafeguarding #childsafety
🚨 Tomorrow's the day! 🚨
Register here: tinyurl.com/3avpdvm3
Feel free to share with your networks.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #childprotection #childsafeguarding #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
Whether you’re a parent navigating the challenges of the digital world, or simply passionate about making the internet a safer place for young people, this event is for you! 🌐
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinesafeguarding #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
Here’s what to expect 👇
✨ Test & help shape practical online safeguarding tools.
💬 Learn how to have confident, open conversations about digital safety.
🤝 Collaborate with researchers to co-create real-world resources for parents & caregivers.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlinegroomingawareness
This interactive session brings together parents, caregivers, & online safety experts from @swanseauni.bsky.social DRAGON team to explore how families can protect children from online harms — together.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinesafeguarding #onlinegroomingawareness
This workshop is part of a nationwide festival celebrating how social science research is making a real difference in people’s lives — connecting research, community, & everyday experience.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness
What to expect:
- Discover how to start open, non-judgmental conversations about online risks & relationships.
- Collaborate with researchers & other parents to co-create meaningful, real-world resources.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness
Key information:
📅 Date: Thursday 30 October 2025.
🕑 Time: 2–4pm.
📍 Venue: Volcano Theatre, Swansea.
🎟️ Free to attend – registration required.
#DRAGON #FoSS #onlinesafety #onlineharm #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness #safeguarding #childsafeguarding
TLDR (2/4):
Reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material rose 1,325% between 2023 and 2024 — including deepfakes placing children’s faces onto explicit images.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention #childprotection #safeguarding
New research from @childlightgcsi.bsky.social has shed light on the staggering global scale of child sexual exploitation and abuse — and the growing digital threats behind it.
🔗 tinyurl.com/2n4jhvk6
TLDR 👇
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness
Whether you’re curious about online harms, want to build your confidence talking to your child about their digital life, or simply want to contribute your perspective — your voice matters.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharm #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness
Join Swansea University’s DRAGON team on 30 October (2–4pm) at the Volcano Theatre for a hands-on, collaborative session designed for parents & caregivers who want to feel more confident supporting children online.
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinegroomingawareness
TLDR (3/3):
As IWF Chief Executive Kerry Smith reminds us: “Any child can be targeted – but the tools are out there to help. There’s never a bad time for parents to start talking about online safety.”
#DRAGON #onlinesafety #onlineharms #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention
Today is the last day to sign-up for the DRAGON-Shield for Parents project.
Please share with your networks. We are looking for UK-based parents/caregivers of children aged 9-17.
#DRAGON #onlinegrooming #onlinegroomingawareness #onlinegroomingprevention #onlinesafety #childsafeguarding #onlineharm
