SHIELD

2025 Conference Topics and Schedule

Want to know more about the Shield Global Online Safety Conference? Check out the schedule below!

We had a mix of talks, panels, and interactive elements covering a large variety of topics in online safety. 

Missed the conference? Most sessions are recorded and available on our YouTube channel: Shield the Future

February 19 ,8:00 am - 8:30 am GMT
Angeline Corvaglia

This session will open our conference by discussing the motivations, challenges, and opportunities behind the event, and outlining our goals for collaboration, innovation, and shared learning.

February 19 ,8:30 am - 9:00 am GMT
Andrew Breircliffe

In this session, we will explore the full landscape of online harms and emphasize the importance of collaboration and shared understanding to find comprehensive solutions.

February 19 ,9:00 am - 9:30 am GMT
Sanchita Mandal

In this session, we will examine the impact of algorithmic bias on youth, emphasizing the need for algorithmic literacy, ethical design, and collaborative efforts to create equitable digital ecosystems.

February 19 ,9:45 am - 10:15 am GMT
Joan Kinyua, Ephantus Ndungu

This session will explore the extremely challenging yet crucial role of AI data labelers, the human effort behind AI’s success and the backbone of AI.

February 19 ,11:00 am - 11:30 am GMT
Shane Britten

This session will explore some powerful examples and statistics showing how widespread online abuse is and how innovative approaches are needed to combat it.

February 19 ,11:30 am - 12:15 pm GMT
Sue Atkins, Calvin Odera, Michelle Levesley

This panel dives into the push and pull of screen time, exploring how parents, friends, and schools can inadvertently contribute to both healthy and unhealthy digital habits.

February 19 ,11:30 am - 12:00 pm GMT
Theresa Ryan-Rouger

This talk will explore the disturbing realities of child online sexual abuse, examining the scope of the problem, the methods perpetrators use, and the profound impact on victims.

February 19 ,12:30 pm - 1:15 pm GMT
Rocio Ribelles Zorita, Edith Utete, Ayesha Bayat

In this session, the panel will explore how ethical AI and digital wellbeing can be integrated into education, focusing on fostering critical thinking, addressing biases, and promoting responsible technology use.

February 19 ,1:30 pm - 2:00 pm GMT
Sonia Kgomo

In this session, we will explore the emotional and challenging work moderators do to ensure a pleasant scrolling experience for users.

February 19 ,2:15 pm - 2:45 pm GMT
Heidi Saas

In this session, we will explore the shift from teacher-led instruction to screen-based learning, examining its impact on education and student well-being.

February 19 ,3:00 pm - 3:45 pm GMT
Dr. KáLyn Coghill, Susanna Gibson, Alexandria Onuha, Norma Buster, and Will Rivera

In this session, we will explore the multifaceted nature of online misogyny and misogynoir, and discuss community-driven strategies and technological tools to create safer, more equitable digital spaces.

February 19 ,4:00 pm - 4:30 pm GMT
Allie Howe

In this session we'll go over a multi AI agent system that has access to sensitive patient data and how to mitigate these threats so we can keep sensitive info safe..

February 19 ,4:45 pm - 5:15 pm GMT
Rachael Olaitan Aborishade

This session will discuss the balance of the potential benefits of companion bots with the need to protect vulnerable users from undue harm, ensuring responsible and ethical AI without stifling innovation.

February 19 ,5:30 pm - 6:00 pm GMT
Nigel Oliveira

This speech will dive into the impact of historical changes of technology on our society and what it means for our future.

February 19 ,6:15 pm - 7:00 pm GMT
Tiffany Wycoff

In this session, we will discuss the need for digital native leadership, explore changemaker education models for youth-led digital wellbeing, and invite participants to complete the Teach 5 Challenge.

February 19 ,7:15 pm - 7:45 pm GMT
Andrew Liddell

In this session, we'll examine the current state of educational technology, focusing on the challenges of adapting tools designed for adults to use in professional settings to the school environment.

February 19 ,9:00 pm - 9:30 pm GMT
Omolara Akerele

This session is about exploring the intersection of socioeconomic inequality, online safety and mental health discovering how marginalized communities are disproportionately affected and learn strategies for promoting digital inclusivity and well-being.

February 20 ,7:15 am - 7:45 am GMT
Nakshathra Suresh

In this session, we will explore the need for upskilling digital natives, addressing deepfake abuse, and fostering a trauma-informed approach to create inclusive and safe online spaces.

February 20 ,8:00 am - 8:45 am GMT
Mophat Okinyi, Kauna Malgwi, Kings Korodi, James Oyange

This panel is about the need to advocate for fair treatment and improved working conditions for tech workers, such as online content moderators and AI data labelers.

February 20 ,9:00 am - 9:30 am GMT
Charlotte Hooper

In this session, we will explore the challenges of addressing online harms in England and Wales, emphasizing the need for better victim support, multi-agency collaboration, and systemic change.

February 20 ,9:45 am - 10:45 pm GMT
Collaboration Jam

In this collaboration jam, we'll discuss what we can do globally to help support communities in guiding children towards healthier digital habits.

February 20 ,9:45 am - 10:30 am GMT
Tinuade Oguntuyi

In the unconference session, attendees propose topics, share insights, and engage in dynamic conversations that matter most to you.

February 20 ,10:45 am - 11:15 am GMT
Sahaj Vaidya

In this session, we will explore how AI can shift from reactive safety measures to proactive strategies that foster empathy, inclusivity, and digital citizenship in online spaces.

February 20 ,11:30 am - 12:15 pm GMT
Demilade Adeniran

In this session, we will explore the balance between convenience and security for Gen Z, offering strategies to protect personal data while enjoying modern technology.

February 20 ,12:00 pm - 12:30 pm GMT
Trisha Srivastava

This session on cyber psychology will explore how technology affects human behavior and offer strategies for a secure, ethical, and responsible online environment.

February 20 ,12:30 pm - 1:30 pm GMT
Collaboration Jam

We'll discuss what we can do and how we can collaborate globally to make children and youth safer from online sexual predators.

February 20 ,12:30 pm - 1:15 pm GMT
Tinuade Oguntuyi

In the unconference session, attendees propose topics, share insights, and engage in dynamic conversations that matter most to you.

February 20 ,1:30 pm - 2:00 pm GMT
Tara Steele

This talk explores the emerging phenomenon of AI griefbots and their particular impact on young people's grief processing and emotional development.

February 20 ,2:00 pm - 3:00 pm GMT
Collaboration Jam

We'll be discussing what can we do globally to make sure technology used in education respects students' privacy and safety.

February 20 ,2:15 pm - 3:15 pm GMT
Collaboration Jam

We'll discuss what can we do and how we can collaborate globally to reduce harm from human trafficking and online exploitation.

February 20 ,3:00 pm - 4:00 pm GMT
Lindsay Gross, Aamani Sharma, Diego Corte

The panel will emphasize the importance of including Gen-Z in conversations about online safety by discussing why their unique perspectives are crucial for effective solutions.

February 20 ,4:00 pm - 4:30 pm GMT
Lisa LeVasseur

In this session, we share the results of more than five years of research and development of Safety Labels for mobile apps and share information about a new training and certification program that teaches anyone how to look “inside” the app to see firsthand where your data is going.

February 20 ,4:30 pm - 5:00 pm GMT
Jose Antonio Gordillo Martorell

During this session, we will discuss how children, as experts in play and creativity, can drive their own learning process about the online world.

February 20 ,5:00 pm - 6:00 pm GMT
Megan Garcia, John Cavanaugh

Megan Garcia will tell the story of how she was blindsided by a risk that she had previously been unaware of, and provide insights into what her experience teaches us about how dangerous AI chatbots really are.

February 20 ,6:00 pm - 6:30 pm GMT
Houda Chihi

This session will be about showing the importance of AI application for security

February 20 ,6:00 pm - 6:30 pm GMT
No Organizer Added

This talk explores interdisciplinary perspectives on designing ethical and developmentally appropriate AI interactions for children.

February 20 ,6:30 pm - 7:00 pm GMT
Erich Mische

This speech will address the urgent need to protect children from the dangers of unregulated social media platforms. It will focus on the KIDS: Keep It Digitally Safe Campaign Contest, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and finding creative solutions to safeguard youth.

February 20 ,7:00 pm - 7:45 pm GMT
Tiffany Wycoff

In this session, we will hear from teen media wellbeing ambassadors who are youth changemakers for a safer digital world.