When we talk about digital safety, the first advice is often simple: use strong passwords, don’t click suspicious links, log out of shared devices. These steps matter, but they only scratch the surface. Real digital safety goes deeper. It is not only about protection, but about empowerment—the ability to move through online spaces with awareness and confidence.

For young people, the digital world is both a space of opportunity and risk. Every app, platform, and network allows connection and creativity, but also raises questions about privacy, data collection, and trust. Safety cannot mean avoiding these spaces. Instead, it means knowing how to engage with them wisely.

This is one of the driving ideas behind the project Connecting Minds for Digital Tomorrow!, implemented by Stichting yEUth with support from the European Solidarity Corps. The project responds to urgent realities: in the Netherlands alone, millions fall victim to cybercrime each year, while concerns about data breaches and online privacy are steadily rising. Many young people spend hours online daily, yet lack the critical skills to protect themselves or to use digital tools effectively in their studies, work, and civic life.

Digital safety in this project is not taught as a set of abstract rules. It is approached through interactive workshops, online labs, and creative activities. Participants learn how to recognize misinformation, avoid scams, and manage their digital identities. But they also practice using digital tools for collaboration, research, and professional development.

By linking safety to media literacy, the project makes young people aware of the hidden costs of “free” platforms, the ways in which data is collected, and the traces we all leave behind online. Instead of being passive users, participants become active, critical digital citizens.

True safety is not about locking everything down, but about making informed choices. A young person who knows how to set boundaries, protect their data, and respond to threats is not withdrawing from the digital world—they are entering it with control.

This is why the project focuses on both students and young professionals. For those still in education, the workshops provide foundational skills in online safety and critical thinking. For recent graduates, the focus shifts toward professional applications: building a secure digital presence, safeguarding workplace information, and using online platforms for career growth.

In today’s society, digital safety is not optional. It is a foundation for education, employment, and civic participation. But more than that, it is a life skill that gives young people agency. When they understand the digital world, they are not only safer—they are more confident, more resilient, and more capable of shaping their futures.

This is the vision of Connecting Minds for Digital Tomorrow!: to move beyond fear of online threats and instead build a community of young people who can think critically, act responsibly, and use digital tools to create positive impact.

Digital safety is not just about avoiding harm. It is about creating the confidence to act online with clarity and responsibility.