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Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored...
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Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored Delivery and Support

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Childhood and Youth Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (3 November 2025) | Viewed by 24731

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aiman El Asam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1LQ, UK
Interests: online risks and harms; online safety education; problematic internet use; cyberbullying and victimisation; mental health; digital resilience; online safety laws and policies; vulnerable children

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Online safety education faces a significant challenge in keeping up with the diverse and ever-evolving online risks and potential harms, while also acknowledging the benefits of online experiences for children and adolescents. Moving away from “rule-based” and “one-size-fits-all” approaches is essential. Individual differences, psychological, social and educational factors may play significant parts in improving current practices, while the style of delivery and offline factors may influence the effectiveness of the message. This Special Issue is particularly focused on exploring the following topics:

  1. New Understandings of Online Risks and Harms: Exploring current emerging online risks and potential harms, particularly through the mediums of social media, online gaming, online content and artificial intelligence (AI).
  2. Old Versus New Approaches to Online Safety Education: Evaluate the effectiveness of traditional “rule-based” approaches versus newer, more dynamic educational methods. This could include assessing the impact of gamified learning, peer-to-peer education or personalized content delivery on online safety outcomes.
  3. Role of Social Isolation, Emotional Distress, or Psychological Factors: Investigate how psychological and emotional factors, such as loneliness, anxiety, depression or self-esteem, influence online safety behaviours and decision-making among children and adolescents, and how such factors can be addressed in online safety education.
  4. Parental Practices in Promoting Safer Internet Use: Examine the role of parents in facilitating online safety for their children. Research might focus on effective communication strategies, parental control tools and the influence of parental attitudes and behaviours on children's online safety practices.
  5. Individual Differences in Online Safety Practices: Investigate how online safety practices differ among various groups, including those with special educational needs, physical disabilities, or other disadvantages and vulnerabilities. It is interesting to see how individual differences can be accounted for in online safety education and support.
  6. Children’s Services and Practitioners’ Understanding of Online Risks/Harms: Explore the knowledge and practices of professionals or practitioners such as social workers, counsellors/therapists and medical personnel regarding online risks and harms. Assess and explore how these practitioners can support children and adolescents in navigating the online world safely while facilitating better psychosocial well-being.
  7. Improving Resilience and Help-Seeking Behaviour: Investigate strategies to enhance resilience and help-seeking behaviour among children and adolescents who encounter online risks or harms. Research might focus on school-based programs, online resources, and communication channels for seeking help, both within educational institutions and at home.

Each of these topics offers an opportunity to contribute to a more nuanced and tailored approach to online safety education that considers the evolving digital landscape, psychosocial wellbeing, individual differences and the role of various stakeholders, including parents and professionals. Aligned with the topics above, this Special Issue welcomes quantitative and qualitative research articles, review articles, case studies or short communications.

Dr. Aiman El Asam
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • online risks and harms
  • online safety education
  • problematic internet use
  • cyberbullying and victimisation
  • mental health
  • digital resilience
  • online safety laws and policies
  • vulnerable children

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 274 KB  
Article
Fostering in a Digital Age: Evaluating a Tailored Online Safety Training Programme for Foster Carers
by Aiman El-Asam
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(11), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14110648 - 5 Nov 2025
Viewed by 403
Abstract
Foster carers are a hard-to-reach population who carry a vast bureaucratic and emotional load. They need tailored and specialised training, support, and advice regarding the digital lives of the children and young people (CYP) they care for. Looked-after CYP are vulnerable in multiple [...] Read more.
Foster carers are a hard-to-reach population who carry a vast bureaucratic and emotional load. They need tailored and specialised training, support, and advice regarding the digital lives of the children and young people (CYP) they care for. Looked-after CYP are vulnerable in multiple ways and are particularly at risk in the digital age. Their susceptibility to online risks raises complex challenges. The training programme Fostering in a Digital Age was designed to support foster carers’ understanding of and responses to the digital lives of looked-after CYP, including both positive and negative aspects. It is research-informed and provides relevant knowledge, resources, tools, and skills. This exploratory study sought the opinions of foster carers and social workers regarding the strengths and limitations of the programme and recommendations for improving it. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten foster carers who had completed the programme and ten social workers who accessed the programme for evaluation purposes. Participants’ experiences and reflections were analysed using thematic analysis. Resulting themes highlighted the relevance of the training programme, with participants recognising the importance of digital lives for looked-after CYP and the need for tailored guidance. The programme was viewed as flexible, accessible, and user-friendly, with comprehensive coverage of key concepts and reflective activities that enhanced carers’ understanding and confidence. Its child-centred and sustainable design enabled carers to apply learning “as and when” needed and to collaborate with CYP to promote safer digital engagement. However, some participants found the volume of resources overwhelming and reported navigation challenges or digital anxiety. Social workers emphasised professional and structural improvements, while carers focused on the programme’s relational benefits and practical relevance. Both groups recommended wider promotion through local authorities and fostering agencies and adaptations to make the programme suitable for social workers and carers with differing digital skills. Overall, fostering in a digital age effectively provided foster carers with tailored knowledge to support CYP online, prevent harm, and respond to adverse digital experiences, aligning with Self-Determination Theory by supporting carers’ autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This evaluation also revealed gaps in online safety knowledge among both foster carers and social workers, highlighting opportunities for the development of future training programmes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored Delivery and Support)
16 pages, 667 KB  
Article
Early Adolescents and Exposure to Risks Online: What Is the Role of Parental Mediation Styles?
by Clara Cavallini, Simona Carla Silvia Caravita and Barbara Colombo
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(11), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14110627 - 23 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1463
Abstract
Studies indicate that early adolescents are exposed to several online risks. Furthermore, early adolescents with Special Educational Needs (SENs) often experience emotional, social, or family difficulties, which increase their vulnerability to online risks. We aimed to investigate whether parental mediation styles regarding children’s [...] Read more.
Studies indicate that early adolescents are exposed to several online risks. Furthermore, early adolescents with Special Educational Needs (SENs) often experience emotional, social, or family difficulties, which increase their vulnerability to online risks. We aimed to investigate whether parental mediation styles regarding children’s Internet use moderate the risk for early adolescents in general and early adolescents with SENs in particular. One hundred and nineteen Italian parents (90.8% female) of children aged 11–15, 34% with a diagnosis associated with SENs, completed self-report measures assessing their children’s exposure to online risks and their parental mediation styles. In addition, 70 early adolescents (43.7% female; 39.4% with an SEN diagnosis) completed measures of social adjustment. Using moderation regression analyses, we examined the associations of parental mediation style, social adjustment, and SEN status with exposure to online risks. The findings highlighted how high levels of active parental mediation were associated with a significant reduction in online risks for adolescents with higher social adjustment. Follow-up analyses indicate, even if marginally, that this effect influences regards, in particular, adolescents with SENs. These results highlight the relevance of both individual social adaptation skills and parental mediation in reducing online risks among early adolescents, particularly those with SENs. Therefore, preventive interventions should not only target the development of youth competencies but also provide guidance and support for parents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored Delivery and Support)
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18 pages, 284 KB  
Article
Online Safety Challenges: Saudi Children and Parents’ Perspectives on Risks and Harms
by Adil Al Ghamdi
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(9), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14090551 - 15 Sep 2025
Viewed by 3343
Abstract
Research in western countries concludes that children and adolescents are exposed to multiple forms of online risks and harms. However, in the context of Saudi Arabia, research in online safety education is lagging. Currently, online safety education is generic and not research informed. [...] Read more.
Research in western countries concludes that children and adolescents are exposed to multiple forms of online risks and harms. However, in the context of Saudi Arabia, research in online safety education is lagging. Currently, online safety education is generic and not research informed. Hence, this exploratory study seeks to generate a qualitative understanding of online risks and harms experienced by Saudi children, adolescents, and parents as well as online safety strategies. Using a semi-structured interview, this study explores the views of 15 children (12–15 years) and 10 parents. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) yielded four key themes: Negotiating the Promise and Peril of the internet, Living with the Shadows of the Online World, Psychological, and Physical Health Consequences, and Navigating Safety in a Digital Landscape of Uncertainty. While the benefits are clear (e.g., education and socialisation), children and parents have shared worries about cyberbullying, aggression, and exploitation. Internet addiction and isolation are notable consequences along with vision impairment and obesity. Children’s online safety practices are reactive, e.g., blocking and deleting risky content/behaviour, while parents share their struggles in monitoring children online. Online safety education, or the lack of it, is to blame. Children’s and parents’ limited awareness of online risks and poor online safety practices need to improve in Saudi Schools and households; there is an urgent need for further research and adequate implementation of systematic online safety education. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored Delivery and Support)
23 pages, 578 KB  
Article
Mind the Net: Parental Awareness and State Responsibilities in the Age of Grooming
by Enikő Kovács-Szépvölgyi and Zsófia Cs. Kiss
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(9), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14090506 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1825
Abstract
In the digital environment, grooming—classified as a communication-based risk—has shown a steadily increasing frequency in recent years. In Hungary, increasing attention has been directed to the protection of children’s rights in the digital space in alignment with ensuring their online safety, with both [...] Read more.
In the digital environment, grooming—classified as a communication-based risk—has shown a steadily increasing frequency in recent years. In Hungary, increasing attention has been directed to the protection of children’s rights in the digital space in alignment with ensuring their online safety, with both parents and the state playing crucial roles in ensuring a safe digital presence. Within this context, the state bears a particular responsibility to educate not only children but also parents. This study explores how public policies and institutional programs in Hungary address the prevention of grooming and the reactive management of this harm through parental awareness. It examines existing measures aimed at expanding knowledge related to prevention and response, based on a qualitative analysis of the normative foundations of the state’s educational obligations and the relevant academic literature. The study relies on questionnaire data collected from parents of children aged 7 to 18 to examine the effectiveness of state measures and parents’ perceptions of them. The findings of the empirical research may support the development of state-led parental education programs and identify current gaps. As such, it can play a guiding role in shaping the direction of a future, large-scale investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored Delivery and Support)
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18 pages, 487 KB  
Article
Offline Factors Influencing the Online Safety of Adolescents with Family Vulnerabilities
by Adrienne Katz and Hannah May Brett
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(6), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060392 - 19 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1828
Abstract
Online safety guidance is frequently delivered as a specialist technology issue without considering adolescents’ home lives, offline vulnerabilities, or wellbeing. Yet, while the digital world offers connection, autonomy, and entertainment, vulnerable teens also encounter more violent content, sexual exploitation, and content concerning body [...] Read more.
Online safety guidance is frequently delivered as a specialist technology issue without considering adolescents’ home lives, offline vulnerabilities, or wellbeing. Yet, while the digital world offers connection, autonomy, and entertainment, vulnerable teens also encounter more violent content, sexual exploitation, and content concerning body image, self-harm or suicide than their non-vulnerable peers. Many struggle with social inclusion or less engaged and credible caregiver e-safety support, which may contribute to their negative experiences online. To improve their online safety and resilience, caregivers and educators might consider offline factors that can mediate exposure to online harms. This study compared the experiences of 213 adolescents with family vulnerabilities to 213 age- and gender-matched non-vulnerable adolescents. The contribution of (a) e-safety education, (b) close friendships, (c) a trusted adult at school, and (d) life-affecting worry was considered. No differences were found for exposure to, or engagement with, e-safety education. However, despite having received e-safety education, those with family vulnerabilities were more at risk of encountering severe online harms. This was mediated by life-affecting worry and parental e-safety guidance. These findings provide unique insights into the impact of family vulnerabilities on adolescents’ exposure to online harms and suggest a more holistic intervention framework for caregivers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored Delivery and Support)
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15 pages, 2987 KB  
Article
Cyber Sex Crimes Targeting Children and Adolescents in South Korea: Incidents and Legal Challenges
by Yujin Jang and Youngmeen Suh
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(11), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13110596 - 3 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 14137
Abstract
This review paper addresses the growing and increasingly sophisticated issue of cyber sexual crimes targeting children and adolescents. It explores specific examples of various sexual offenses, analyzes the limitations of current legal frameworks, and offers practical recommendations for prevention. As one of the [...] Read more.
This review paper addresses the growing and increasingly sophisticated issue of cyber sexual crimes targeting children and adolescents. It explores specific examples of various sexual offenses, analyzes the limitations of current legal frameworks, and offers practical recommendations for prevention. As one of the world’s most advanced digital societies, South Korea has witnessed a significant rise in such crimes. These incidents are classified into clear criminal acts, tactics used to lure minors, and occurrences within virtual environments, all of which should be integral to educational programs for children and parents. This study also examines the UK’s Online Safety Act, recognized as a leading model in combating online sexual offenses, and highlights the deficiencies in South Korean law. Given that these crimes often extend into the offline world, exploit vulnerable groups with increasing subtlety, and are challenging for individuals to counteract alone, there is a critical need for specialized education for minors, metaverse training for parents, and the enhancement of both legal measures and international cooperation in this area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Online Safety among Children and Adolescents: Aiming towards More Tailored Delivery and Support)
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