To mark Safer Internet Day, Snap is introducing ‘The Keys: A Guide to Digital Safety’, an interactive online safety program designed for teens and their parents.
Developed in collaboration with American non-profit organisation Common Sense Media, informed by safety experts and reviewed by members of Snap’s Teen Council for Digital Well-Being, the program aims to educate teens about four key risks they may face online: bullying, illicit drug activity, nude and intimate images, and sextortion, while also teaching platform-specific skills to help them stay safe on Snapchat.
This initiative follows the government’s move to ban children under the age of 16 from social media due to growing concerns about mental health, online harm and exposure to unsafe content.
‘The Keys’ was inspired by driver education, wherein teenagers learn the rules of the road in the classroom, alongside practical experience behind the wheel. In the same way, this initiative teaches teens to identify potential online harms and presents realistic scenarios to help them practice responding when they encounter these risks.
Despite the range of educational resources available, many parents of teens say they worry that their children lack the practical knowledge and skills needed to safely navigate online platforms.
“We developed ‘The Keys’ because we saw an opportunity in teen-focused digital safety education,” Jacqueline Beauchere, Snap’s global head of platform safety said.
“This program goes beyond awareness; it builds practical skills by tackling the most challenging situations teenagers may face online. We hope The Keys helps provide teens with the critical thinking skills and confidence they need to navigate digital spaces safely”.
The 45-minute program can be completed in one sitting or paused and resumed later. As teens move through the course, they watch videos, participate in interactive reflections, and work through realistic scenarios designed to help them learn and apply practical safety skills.
The program also offers guidance on what to do when faced with difficult situations and shares resources for seeking help if a potential threat to safety or well-being arises.
‘The Keys’ consists of two sections. The first outlines the key online risks teens may encounter across a range of platforms and services, including bullying, illicit drug activity, nude and intimate images, and sextortion. The second provides a tutorial on Snapchat’s safety features, settings and reporting tools for those who choose to use the app.
Snap recommends that teens complete the course alongside a parent, teacher, or trusted adult, providing opportunities for questions and discussion throughout. The program is designed as a shared learning experience to support stronger conversations between teens and caregivers about digital safety.
