On Thursday night, we were invited along to Year 8 Parent’s Evening at a Reddish Vale Secondary School to talk all things digital & technology but more specifically to chat to families and young people about online harms.

What was the most striking thing about the conversations we had was that it isn’t just what people are worried about that was brought up, but the where and how these conversations happen, and the impact this can have. One thing came through clearly: if you want to reach people who are least engaged with services, we have to go to where they already are. This might mean trips to community spaces, partnering with trusted organisations, making the most of informal settings, and not expecting families or young people to step into unfamiliar places that feel judged and intimidating.

Early on it became apparent that the young people thought we were there to take devices away, lecture them on screen time and to frame technology as the problem. This couldn’t be further from the truth. We know technology isn’t going anywhere, and for many young people it is central to their identity, how they learn, how they express themselves and how they connect with the wider world. We can’t deny this, and more needs to be done to acknowledge this is the new reality. At the same time, the wider families of these young people are voicing very real concerns. Inappropriate content, online pressures, misinformation, and the speed at which platforms evolve are all very real, and very present concerns. It isn’t control for the sake of control. It is coming from a place of caring, responsibility & protection in a rapidly changing and often misunderstood environment.

Here at Starting Point, we are creating a space for both of these truths to exist at the same time. We are working with families to better understand the role platforms and apps play in young people’s lives socially, emotionally & developmentally. We are also working with them to explore why adults are worried, what risks look like in the real world and how young people and families can make informed & confident choices and decisions.

As quickly as these apps and platforms change, this conversation does. Platforms change, risks shift, and cultural norms move faster than policy can keep up with. That means our work has to remain flexible, reflective and rooted in lived experience, not assumptions.

For those in this space, we need to be aware that effective online safety work isn’t just about compliance and guidance. It is about relationships, trust and meeting communities and people where they are.

Starting Point’s ambition is to be a constructive voice in this space. To recognise the benefits of the online world, whilst being explicit about the risks. Respecting young people and their agency, whilst supporting families to feel informed rather than powerless. It is about dialogue and not division, understanding and not assumptions. If we do this, we can continue to help young people navigate the digital world safely and make the most of the opportunities it offers.

Thank you to the Reddish Vale School for inviting us along last night. We appreciate the space to have these conversations with your families and young people, and look forward to attending more events at school in the future.