From risks to relationships: rethinking digital safety for youth

Digital spaces are not separate from real life, they are actively shaping it. As online harm intensifies, particularly gender-based violence, its impacts are increasingly felt in young people’s relationships, identities, and sense of safety. In a December 2025 press release, UN Women, the United Nations’ lead entity on gender equality, stated, “Digital abuse spills into real life, spreading fear, silencing voices, and, in the worst cases, leading to physical violence and femicide.” Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) echo these concerns, noting that victims often take protective measures by withdrawing from online spaces, limiting their access to employment, health services and educational opportunities. This harm can take many forms, including harassment, image-based abuse, and the rapid amplification of harmful content through algorithms. As platforms rapidly evolve to evade accountability, their speed and complexity call for a triage-like response.

For young people, digital spaces are inseparable from their lived experiences. Further, these environments shape formative moments in their development. Repeated exposure to harmful or misogynistic content normalizes violence which in turn impacts identity and behaviour, distorting what constitutes healthy relationships. However, if educator responses focus entirely on risk mitigation, we overlook a critical point: digital spaces are primary sites of connection and learning. They can offer opportunities to support young people in forming healthy relationships, grounded in care and responsibility.

Programs like TELUS Wise play an essential role by providing educational resources on cyberbullying, online safety, and emerging technologies such as AI. Complementing this work, the Moose Hide Campaign, an Indigenous led organization, is committed to ending gender-based violence, with a strong emphasis on engaging men and boys as part of the solution. Its educational resources amplify Indigenous voices and cultural teachings. Lesson plans are created through a relational lens, which affirms that all individuals and life forms are interconnected, therefore accountable to one another.

The Moose Hide Campaign approaches digital literacy by foregrounding the qualities that sustain healthy communities: empathy, accountability, respect, and care. They highlight the agency of young Indigenous social media activists who are addressing injustices while building strong, healthy communities of belonging. These young leaders draw on wisdom, humour, and storytelling to advance their messages. In doing so, they not only support cultural resurgence within their own communities but also encourage all youth to reflect on what they care about and to recognize their capacity to create change.

Representation in digital spaces plays a critical role in shaping how youth see themselves and others. Statistics Canada reports that racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals experience much higher rates of online harm. At the same time, algorithms and AI systems can lead to a vicious cycle by generating harmful narratives and stereotypes, reinforcing narrow or harmful worldviews. The Moose Hide Campaign works to amplify diverse voices and stories, contributing to more inclusive digital environments. When youth engage with positive, values-driven content, they also influence the algorithms shaping their experience, reminding them they are not just consumers, but active participants in their digital worlds.

These Moose Hide Campaign educational resources demonstrate how youth leadership, cultural knowledge, and digital platforms can intersect to foster positive change:

• Indigenous representation in media: this resource invites youth to explore the importance of authentic representation and how increased visibility can deepen understanding of Indigenous lives. It opens space for critical reflection on identity, belonging, and the impact of representation in digital environments.
• Moving through life with love: TikTok creator Notorious Cree connects with youth by sharing experiences of anger, hurt, and disconnection. He encourages young people to reflect on the qualities of healthy relationships, develop communication skills, and choose care over reaction—especially in fast-paced digital spaces.
• TikTok as activism: Featuring Tia Wood, Shina Novalinga and Caroline Novalinga, and Theland Kicknosway, this lesson shows how Indigenous creators use TikTok to share culture, raise awareness, and advocate for change. It encourages students to see themselves as active participants who can use digital platforms for connection and positive impact.
• Movement is medicine: Kendra Jessie uses her platform to promote Indigenous culture, wellness, and healing. As a fitness trainer, Nike N7 athlete, and wellness facilitator, she models how an online presence can align with offline values. Her work emphasizes confidence, mindfulness, healing from intergenerational trauma, and living in balance.

Digital safety education is most effective when approaches work collaboratively. TELUS Wise equips students with practical skills and awareness to navigate online risks. The Moose Hide Campaign, in turn, emphasizes relational accountability, how we show up for one another in all spaces, including online. Together, these efforts offer a holistic vision of digital education, grounded in care, responsibility, and belonging. As the United Nations has emphasized in its current campaign, young people, particularly women, need to be empowered to engage in online spaces, “Digital literacy and resilience are not only investments in future careers, they are essential strategies for preventing gender-based digital violence.” These educational resources help guide young people not only to stay safe, but to actively shape digital environments that reflect the world that they want to live in-far beyond the screen. Explore the Moose Hide Campaign's educational resources to learn more.