Digital Safeguarding – Lite Bite 1: AI Companions

This is part one of a four-part online webinar series designed to equip youth workers with the awareness, understanding and practical considerations needed to respond to emerging digital safeguarding challenges.

Funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) the series brings together sector experts and youth workers to reflect on the evolving digital landscape impacting young lives and encourage discussion on youth work approaches to addressing digital safeguarding risks in youth work settings.

Co-delivered with sector experts ChildNet this series aims to:

• – Build awareness of key and emerging digital safeguarding risks affecting young people.
• – Increase understanding of how these risks may present in youth work settings.
• – Share insights from sector experts and current practice.
• – Signpost resources and next steps for youth workers.

This session will explore the rise of AI-powered chatbots and digital companions, and their influence on young people’s relationships, emotional development, and sense of identity. It will examine both opportunities (e.g. support, accessibility) and safeguarding risks (e.g. dependency, misinformation, emotional manipulation).

This introductory CPD is suitable for youth workers, volunteers and practitioners working with young people. No specialist digital safeguarding knowledge is required, although learners should have a basic understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within their own organisation.

These presentation style sessions are designed as short, introductory webinars that provide awareness and opportunities to ask questions, rather than in-depth specialist training.