Safer Internet Day 2025

Safer Internet Day 2025: Empowering Youth as Stakeholders

Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Time: 10 AM – 2:30 PM (Doors open at 9:00 AM)
Location: California Endowment Center/The Center for Healthy Communities
1414 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814 | Parking information

Safer Internet Day 2025 aims to bring together diverse stakeholders—students, parents, educators, policymakers and tech industry leaders—for a dynamic leadership summit to discuss internet safety issues and policies. The event will focus on empowering youth by including their voices in critical conversations about online safety, digital wellbeing and the ethical use of technology. Attendees will collaborate on pressing topics like social media regulation, school phone policies, cyberbullying prevention and generative AI.

This multi-stakeholder event will emphasize actionable solutions and foster an environment where young people are not just participants but essential stakeholders in shaping a better online world.

PROGRAM AGENDA

9:00 Doors Open

10:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Larry Magid | CEO, ConnectSafely
• Ash Kalra | California Assemblymember
• Kerry Gallagher | Education Director, ConnectSafely

10:15 Ice Breaker: “Two Truths and a Lie”

A fun activity incorporating research insights from FOSI, Common Sense Media, Pew Research Center, and Thorn.

10:30 Shereen Walter, California PTA

10:30 Breakout Session 1: Brainstorming Solutions

Small groups (balanced with students, parents, educators, policymakers, and tech industry leaders) work together to brainstorm 3-5 solutions to assigned internet safety topics. Here are the topics we’ll discuss.

11:00 How Tech Companies Design with Youth in Mind

Students, industry leaders, parents and policymakers discuss how digital platforms can better reflect and address the needs of young users. Panelists will explore how youth experiences influence product design, the decision-making processes behind these platforms and strategies for fostering safer online environments.

• Alicia Blum-Ross | Global Head of Youth Safety by Design, TikTok
• Melissa Fausz | State and Local Government Affairs and Public Policy, YouTube
• Nicole Lopez | Global Director of Youth Safety Policy, Meta
• Larry Magid | CEO, ConnectSafely (Moderator)
• Aleeza Siddique | High School Student
• Nate Teitelbaum | ConnectSafely Youth Advisory Council

11:40 Breakout Session 2: Refining Solutions

Groups finalize a single detailed solution. Presentations will be prepared using a provided template.

11:50 Speaker

• California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks 

12:00 Musician Will Magid

12:15 Lunch

12:50 Keynote Speaker

• California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

1:10 Thriving Online: Promoting Resilience and Well-Being in a Connected World

Panelists will focus on the intersection of internet safety and youth mental health.

• Jacqueline Beauchere | Global Head of Platform Safety, Snap
• Tami Bhaumik | Vice President of Civility and Partnerships, Roblox (Moderator)
• Ovee Dharwadkar | Snap Council for Digital Well-Being
• Anika Raffle | ConnectSafely Youth Advisory Council
• Matthew Soeth | Executive Director, Thriving in Games Group

1:50 Breakout Session 3: Finalizing Solutions

Groups finalize their presentations.

2:15 Wrap-Up

2:30 Event Ends

Free Safer Internet Day Resources

We also have lots of free Safer Internet Day resources for families and schools:

Lesson plans
Smart Digital Parenting program with National PTA
Family program
Student program