Digital Leaders: The students promoting responsible use of technology

In today’s world, we use technology all the time; it is a vital part of how we learn, how we communicate, and how we build relationships. This brings with it huge opportunities, but also risks, such as misinformation, cyberbullying, and addiction. The Milton Abbey School Digital Leaders Programme plays a significant role by actively involving students in making their online world a safer place. In the modern world, students are the most actively involved online and are therefore the most vulnerable to its risks. 

The Digital Leaders Programme (established in partnership with Childnet) has evolved over the past six years from a small initiative into a vital part of school life and our online safety policy. It was launched in response to the growing role of digital platforms in learning, communication, and social interactions. It is a student-led programme that promotes positive, safe, and responsible use of technology across the school. We also help to raise awareness of online safety and digital wellbeing. In the past, we have created posters and videos that our students can relate to. Last year, we explored the world of online scamming and its impact on young people, focusing on fake online stories, phishing, and social media scams. 

Milton Abbey creates a culture where online safety is not just a set of rules imposed by teachers, but a shared responsibility. This peer-to-peer model makes the message more relatable and encourages students to speak openly about concerns and take matters into their own hands. Ultimately, the Digital Leaders Programme equips pupils with the confidence and skills to influence their own digital environments, both inside and outside school, helping to build a safer online world for everyone. 

I have personally learnt many skills along the way, from developing ideas to producing them. It has helped me to develop my leadership skills and critical thinking, as well as supporting my peers. I have learnt how to identify and challenge the issues involved in social media and internet usage, especially those that are not obvious at first sight. I have also learnt how to work as part of a team to communicate our initiatives, listen to different perspectives, and take responsibility for our online actions. 

The theme of Safer Internet Day 2026 is ‘Smart tech, safe choices’, helping young people understand how to use AI confidently and responsibly. As part of Safer Internet Day, schools around the world have been exploring how AI can be used for good.  

The Digital Leaders have been discussing and preparing resources on how, as a community, we can stay safe and make good decisions. We have done this in two ways. Firstly, we have produced a range of posters that will appear around the school, discussing the main topics we felt were important to young people today. One of the posters focuses on how AI can make us ‘lazier’ if we are not careful and highlights the importance of maintaining our critical thinking skills and creativity. We are also addressing fake news and how easily it can be created, not just as text but also as images and videos. Finally, we have explored how AI may affect future jobs, explaining how it could reduce some roles while also creating new opportunities that did not exist before. We also produced a short video skit to show appropriate use of AI. One of the things we discussed was how AI could take over people's lives, stop us thinking – and even maybe talking – for ourselves.  

Ultimately, the programme has taught us mutual respect and choice, ensuring that Milton Abbey students are prepared to lead with integrity in an ever-changing online world.