This event marked the launch of new ARK research report commissioned by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland. This important study explores how children and young people in Northern Ireland navigate the online world - how they use the internet and social media, the risks they encounter, and how confident they feel in reporting online harms.

Authored by Professor Michelle Butler (Queen's University Belfast), and ARK’s Professor Dirk Schubotz and Dr Martina McKnight, the study draws on data from the Kids' Life and Times and Young Life and Times surveys. The speakers at the event focused on how this valuable evidence base can to inform the delivery of Northern Ireland’s Online Safety Strategy and Action Plan, highlighting where additional support or understanding may be needed, particularly for groups who may be more vulnerable online.