On 9 February 2026, youth representatives from the SHIELD project, by Save the Children Thailand in partnership with the ECPAT Foundation, participated in Safer Internet Day Thailand 2026. The event aimed to raise awareness about online safety and create space for children and young people to share their perspectives and recommendations on today’s digital risks.

In and Moji, two SHIELD youth representatives from Northern Thailand, attended the event and shared their experiences as active online users. They described the atmosphere as vibrant and engaging, bringing together participants from different regions of Thailand and several countries. Various booths offered knowledge and interactive activities for both children and adults, including quizzes and games focused on digital literacy and child protection in the online space.

A Space That Shows “Adults Care”

For Moji, the opportunity to engage directly with adults at the event shifted her perspective.

“Adults really care about children when it comes to online media use,” she said. “Usually, we only see things from the youth perspective and don’t think adults pay this much attention. But in reality, they are very concerned and are trying to protect us from the parts of the online world that aren’t always safe.”

AI, Grooming, and Cyberbullying: Challenges We Must Keep Up With

Both In and Moji highlighted ongoing digital challenges that require urgent attention.

In emphasized the growing risks related to artificial intelligence (AI), noting how AI can now be used to create highly realistic images and videos that are difficult to distinguish from real content.

“AI comes in many forms and continues to evolve,” she explained. “I want people to keep up with AI developments and not blindly trust news or content that may have been manipulated using AI.”

She also raised concerns about online grooming, the process of building trust with children in order to exploit or manipulate them.

“It can lead to other forms of online harm, such as sexual blackmail or the misuse of personal information,” she warned.

Moji reflected on the widespread issue of cyberbullying, which she sees as a serious and common problem.

“Some adults may think it’s not a big deal, but for children who are still developing and haven’t experienced much in life, being bullied—especially about their appearance—can cause overthinking and depression. Depression among children in our country is increasing. We need to pay more attention to bullying, think about how to reduce it, and help children build confidence and feel comfortable in their own skin.”

Youth Voices in Policy-Making

As active digital users, both representatives agreed that youth voices are essential in shaping online safety policies.

“Young people are one of the largest groups using social media and we use it constantly,” said In. “If policies are created only by adults, they may not fully reflect the problems we actually face. They might not reach us effectively.”

Moji added that because children and youth engage with online platforms daily, their safety must be prioritized.

“I want everyone to think more seriously about online safety. Right now, there are still limitations in screening harmful content. Some media content is not appropriate for children.”

From the National Stage to Schools and Communities

For In, participating in the event was only the beginning. She hopes to share what she has learned about AI with her community.

“After learning more about AI, I feel that people in my community still lack knowledge in this area. They might easily believe misinformation or consume misleading content.”

Similarly, Moji hopes to extend awareness to groups that may have limited access to information about online risks.

“I want to share this knowledge with older people, persons with disabilities, and children and elderly people from ethnic communities. These groups often don’t receive enough information about online dangers. Older people, for example, may be more vulnerable to AI-related scams or call center fraud.”

For the youth participants of the SHIELD project, joining Safer Internet Day 2026 was more than an opportunity to speak, it was proof that young voices matter. They do not only seek protection; they seek to be heard and to actively participate in shaping the digital world they navigate every day.

Save the Children Thailand believes that when children are given safe spaces to speak up, meaningful change can truly begin.