TU Dublin’s GroSafe Marks Safer Internet Day 2026 with Launch of Research Ireland Video
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TU Dublin’s GroSafe research team will mark Safer Internet Day 2026 with the launch of their official Research Ireland National Challenge Fund video, highlighting the project’s work to protect children and young people from online grooming and abuse.
GroSafe is led by Dr Christina Thorpe, Head of Discipline for Cyber Security and Principal Investigator, and Dr Matt Bowden, Lead of the Culture and Society Research Hub and Co-Principal Investigator, alongside the wider GroSafe Research Team at TU Dublin. The project is supported through the Research Ireland National Challenge Fund and delivered in partnership with the ISPCC.
GroSafe is an innovative suite of tools designed to help children and young people recognise the signs of grooming and respond appropriately. At its core is a first-of-its-kind interactive computer game featuring a quiz-based engine within an engaging 3D environment and a quest-reward system that reinforces learning through play.
The platform also includes a user-friendly feature that allows young people to share their online experiences, enabling the content to evolve alongside emerging grooming tactics. An AI-driven signposting agent provides guidance and directs users to trusted support services when help is needed. A knowledge management system is also being developed to support parents and professionals in better understanding grooming risks.
Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people. It is coordinated in Ireland by Oide Technology in Education and Webwise. Safer Internet Day takes place on Tuesday, 10th February 2026. The celebrations are based around the theme, “AI Aware: Safe, Smart, and in Control”
Safer Internet Day 2026 will explore ways to empower children and young people with the critical thinking and digital literacy skills they need to evaluate content, recognise bias, protect their privacy, and make responsible decisions, and be Safe, Smart and in Control.
The launch of the official Research Ireland National Challenge Fund video on Safer Internet Day 2026 marks an important milestone in bringing GroSafe from research into practice. Over the next two years, the team aims to roll out the solution across Ireland and, in time, extend its reach internationally, helping more young people stay safer online as digital risks continue to evolve.
The GroSafe project is delivered in partnership with the ISPCC, with Fiona Jennings acting as Societal Impact Champion to ensure the solution reflects real-world needs and connects effectively with child safeguarding services. Early trials demonstrate strong impact: overall grooming recognition in GroSafe’s Proof-of-Concept trials improved by 19.4 percentage points, representing a 31.7% absolute gain
GroSafe has now entered the prize phase of the Research Ireland National Challenge Fund and is moving towards phased deployment of the solution. The team is preparing for wider implementation, with the goal of delivering measurable real-world impact for children and young people.
For more information about GroSafe, visit www.grosafe.ie.
About Safer Internet Day
Online grooming and abuse remain widespread and evolving threats. Estimates from Childlight (University of Edinburgh) suggest that around 300 million young people worldwide are affected by online grooming and exploitation each year. Research from the WeProtect Global Alliance shows how quickly harmful interactions can escalate: the average time for a high-risk grooming situation to develop in an online game is just 45 minutes, and in some cases can happen in as little as 19 seconds. These findings underline the urgency of equipping young people with the skills to recognise early warning signs and respond safely.
Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU-wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, particularly children and young people. This year’s theme, ‘AI Aware: Safe, Smart, and in Control,’ focuses on empowering young people with the critical thinking and digital literacy skills they need to navigate digital spaces responsibly. Safer Internet Day brings together educators, families, industry, policymakers and young people to promote a safer and more positive online environment.
Join the conversation and show your support for a safer, better internet for children and young people using #SID2026.
