Today, nearly everyone owns a smartphone with access to the online world. While digital platforms offer benefits for communication and entertainment, they also bring dangers — from scams and hate speech to harassment and bullying. Without caution, these platforms can quickly bring a serious threat, especially for children and youth. 

Pong, a Grade 12 student and member of the student council at a school in northern Thailand, experienced this first-hand. During a livestream on a social media app, a stranger sent him gifts and attempted to contact him privately. Although Pong managed to handle the situation himself, he felt uneasy, harassed, and eventually too anxious to use social media as he once had. 

That experience motivated Pong to join anti-online threat projects run in partnership between Save the Children Thailand and the ECPAT Foundation Thailand. He first joined the ROAR II project (2023–2024) and later became part of the SHIELD project (2025–2027), both aimed at building a safer online environment for children and youth in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. 

Pong believes these activities not only taught him how to protect himself from online threats, but also gave him space to develop new skills and become a changemaker for children and youth in his school and community.

He recalls that when he first joined, he was too shy to express his opinions in front of others. But through group activities and continuous practice, he gradually became more confident in public speaking, learned to protect himself online, fact-check before sharing information, and identify agencies that could provide support. Most importantly, he has been able to pass on this knowledge to his peers. 

His message to other young people is: "Even if you are going through something bad online — being bullied, deceived, or harassed — know that you are not alone. You have the right to ask for help. Don't keep it to yourself, and don't be afraid to speak out."

While children like Pong are learning to protect themselves and their peers, teachers and schools also play a crucial role in creating safe spaces and listening to students' voices, helping them grow, learn, and channel their creativity toward building safer online communities.

One of the teachers who joined the project reflected that opening minds and giving students opportunities to take the lead is essential for helping them face challenges.

Chonthira Kaewsamochoi, or "Kru Wi" as her students call her, is a teacher at Mae Khue Wittaya School in Chiang Mai. She explained that many students were glued to their phones, spending excessive time on social media at the expense of their responsibilities. Some even mocked their peers online, straining relationships and school atmosphere.

With previous experience from the ROAR II project, the school decided to continue with SHIELD, having witnessed its value and positive outcomes. What stood out most was how the program gave students leadership roles and ownership — from planning and designing activities to implementing them.

Kru Wi shared one of the key lessons she learned: "Sometimes, as teachers, we need to stop talking, stop instructing, and start listening to our students."

"Try to open your mind. Don't worry about extra workload. What students gain are life skills and experiences we may never students gain are life skills and experiences we may never have expected. This project is not just an extracurricular activity — it's a vital platform for students to discover themselves, show their potential, and learn through hands-on experience," she added. 

The school believes that such processes will help students think critically, view problems holistically, and apply thei r knowledge to support peers and improve the school community. Looking ahead, they hope to see more activities where students can create their own media — such as short films, games, or other creative outputs — that can be applied and sustained within the school.

Ultimately, when children and youth are given the right opportunities, and adults around them are willing to listen, they can transform difficult experiences into positive energy and drive real change toward making the online world safer for everyone.