This has been an extraordinarily heavy week for schools across Sweden and the Nordic region. The horrific school attack on Friday afternoon in Fagersta, Sweden, has shaken us to the core, leaving us in deep sorrow for the victims, their families, and the entire school community.
The evidence of harmful features, addictive feeds, and weak moderation on social media platforms is too clear to ignore. Following Australia's national ban, several European countries are considering their own minimum age limits. In July, the European Commission issued a formal opinion to France regarding its social media ban legislation.
When the popular video-chat platform Omegle shut down, many parents and educators breathed a sigh of relief. However, the appetite for anonymous, random video chatting did not disappear. Today, a wave of replicas and alternatives has quickly filled the vacuum, pairing strangers from around the world for live video, audio, or text chats.
As wearable technology continues to advance, devices like smart glasses have grown in popularity among young people. These frames look like ordinary eyewear but feature built-in cameras, microphones, and wireless connectivity. While they offer hands-free convenience for communication and photography, their discreet design also introduces new challenges regarding privacy and consent in schools and universities.
When we discuss school safety, the focus is naturally on students. However, at SomeBuddy, we recognize that educators also find themselves in difficult and harmful situations online. Digital harassment of school staff is not a new issue, but it continues to evolve alongside a landscape where digital devices are an inseparable part of daily life.
The year 2026 is and will continue to be an intense election year, with nearly half the world's population heading to the polls.
While generative AI has brought incredible innovation, it has also introduced a dark and deeply personal form of digital violence: 'nudifying' apps. These tools allow users to take a regular photo of a classmate, friend, or teacher and use AI to create a sexually explicit deepfake.
In 2024, WhatsApp emerged as the second most reported platform to our Online Safety Emergency Unit, with the majority of cases involving children and young people. While many adults still view it as a simple tool for family group chats, the reality has shifted.
