Q MAGAZINE MEDIA

how to support young people to build digital confidence and resilience

brett | Supporting our community since 2004

Young people are growing up in a world where online spaces are woven into everyday life, friendships, learning, creativity, and identity exploration all happen digitally. While the internet can offer connection and opportunity, it can also expose young people to risks that they are not always equipped to navigate alone.

Why Digital Confidence Matters

Digital confidence isn’t about being fearless online, it’s about feeling informed, supported, and able to make choices that prioritise wellbeing.

Young people who lack digital confidence may:

This vulnerability can be exploited in situations involving sextortion, image-based abuse, grooming, or emotional manipulation.

Building confidence early can significantly reduce harm.

Encouraging Critical Thinking Online

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One of the most powerful protective tools is helping young people question what they see and experience online.

Support them to ask:

Teaching young people that it’s okay to pause, doubt, and say no helps counteract the urgency and secrecy that coercive situations rely on.

Normalising Boundaries and “No”

Many young people are taught to be polite, agreeable, and accommodating—sometimes at the expense of their own comfort.

It’s important to reinforce that:

When young people understand that their boundaries matter, they are more likely to protect themselves—and to seek help when those boundaries are violated.

Creating Safe Conversations

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Adults often underestimate how much young people want guidance—without judgement.

Helpful conversations are:

Instead of asking, “Why did you do that?”, try:

When young people know they won’t be blamed, they’re far more likely to speak up early.

What to Teach About Online Harm

Age-appropriate education should include:

If a young person experiences sextortion or online abuse, fear and shame can prevent disclosure. Clear messaging that help is available and judgement-free can be lifesaving.

Supporting Resilience After Harm

brett | Supporting our community since 2004 Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Resilience doesn’t mean “bouncing back” quickly. It means knowing that support exists and that one experience does not define a person’s worth or future.

If a young person has been harmed online:

Healing happens best in environments where safety, dignity, and choice are prioritised.

A Shared Responsibility

Protecting young people online isn’t solely their responsibility. It requires informed adults, supportive communities, and systems that centre safety over silence.

By fostering digital confidence, we equip young people not just to avoid harm, but to trust themselves, advocate for their needs, and seek help without fear.

Q Magazine: supporting our community since 2004 – February 2026 edition out this weekend.

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