We want them safe, confident, and connected: Helping Girls for the Digital Future
On October 11th, we marked the International Day of the Girl. In classrooms across Europe, girls are not just learning; they are leading, imagining, and creating the future. This year’s theme, “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis”, draws attention to the ways girls take initiative in their communities. Yet, too often, their voices are overlooked. The same happens online, where girls are exploring, learning, and gaining confidence but promoting online safety for girls is essential, as they also face risks..
The internet is a space full of opportunities: to develop skills, build knowledge, and test ideas. But it is also a space where cyberbullying, harmful stereotypes, and unsafe interactions thrive. Research shows that 16% to 53% of women have experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence. These numbers are not just statistics; they point to real threats in the digital lives of women and young girls
European Schoolnet has been investigating these issues. Through initiatives like the menABLE project and its podcast series, European Schoolnet has explored how technology can amplify existing inequalities. In one episode, activist Silvia Semenzin described how tools like deepfakes and online harassment are being used to silence women and reinforce harmful stereotypes. Her insights serve as a reminder that the work on digital safety is ongoing and that educators and young people are navigating a complex landscape.
Classrooms as safe digital spaces
Teachers are important when it comes to helping girls feel safe online. Small changes can have a big impact:
- Open discussions about healthy online relationships, respect, and consent give students the language to set boundaries and navigate digital spaces confidently.
- Encouraging collaboration and self-expression in online projects helps girls practice leadership, creativity, and problem-solving.
Eray, the course coordinator of the MOOC Helping kids build and manage healthy online relationships, sums it up:
“Empowering young people online isn’t just about teaching safety rules—it’s about fostering confidence, critical thinking, and the ability to challenge harmful behaviours. Girls who understand digital consent and respect are better prepared to lead both online and offline.”
European Schoolnet Academy has created tools to support teachers with these challenges. The MOOC: MOOC Helping kids build and manage healthy online relationships launched on October 6 provides structured ways to explore youth online interactions. Participants examine the nature of friendships and relationships online, learn how to identify and address unsafe behaviour, and find practical strategies to build empowering digital communities.
Looking ahead: ethics, awareness and action
The evidence is clear: online safety is not just a technical problem; it is also a social and ethical one. AI, algorithms, and online platforms can either protect or put girls at risk. Creating safe spaces requires more than rules; it requires awareness, guidance, and constant attention. Teachers, parents, and policymakers all have a role to play.
The girls of today are shaping tomorrow. Helping them navigate the digital world safely is not just protection but a commitment to their confidence, agency, and leadership.
