Following the Government's announcement of a ban on social media for under 16s, the way young people experience the online world is about to change. From a safeguarding perspective, understanding this experience through their eyes is as important as ever.

'Young people's online worlds present both opportunities and risks, and these spaces increasingly shape their relationships, identities and everyday experiences,' reflects Dr Tracee Green, Head of the Centre for Child Protection at Kent. 'Whatever happens with legislation, professionals and children will still need the skills to recognise harm, understand what is happening in children's lives, and respond effectively when concerns arise. That's where our Centre's work and training make a valuable contribution.'

As specialists in safeguarding, researchers within the Centre for Child Protection recognise that children's digital lives extend far beyond social media alone and they have developed a series of innovative training simulations to help professionals - and children themselves - to understand and respond to online harms.

These 'serious game' simulations place practitioners in realistic, emotionally complex safeguarding scenarios - often from the perspective of a child - enabling them to explore child protection scenarios in a safe, reflective environment. Three such simulations explore how online relationships and digital platforms can be used to groom, manipulate and influence young people, including in the context of radicalisation and exploitation.

Maryam and Joe: Behind Closed Doors is an interactive social-media style simulation, developed with funding from the Home Office to allow professionals and children to spot the signs of radicalisation in two different scenarios; firstly, through the online, social-media life of Maryam (aged 15) and her sisters and secondly, through the online and personal relationships of Joe (aged 20) and his family.

A second Prevent safeguarding resource, called Young Zak the Gamer, has been designed for professionals working with children aged 9-13 (upper Key Stage 2 and early Key Stage 3), and supports exploration of the risks children may face in online gaming spaces, including exposure to grooming and radicalisation.

Looking Out for Lottie explores child sexual exploitation through the experiences of a young girl who is groomed both online and offline. The simulation demonstrates how digital communication, personal relationships and face-to-face interactions can converge to create opportunities for manipulation and abuse. By following Lottie's story, professionals and young people gain insight into the grooming process from a child's perspective and develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which online and offline experiences can combine to increase children's vulnerabilities to exploitation.

'Unlike traditional safeguarding training, our simulations immerse learners in realistic scenarios and allow them to experience situations from the perspectives of children, families and professionals,' explains Dr Green. 'Participants are encouraged to identify emerging concerns, make decisions, and reflect on the consequences of those decisions in a safe learning environment. This helps move beyond simply recognising signs of harm to understanding how children experience risk, vulnerability and support in their everyday lives.

An instructor-led session based on Young Zak the Gamer will be taking place on 1 July between 3:30pm-5pm and is currently open for registration. To book your place visit our website - or find out more about other simulation training offered by the Centre.