The annual Safer Internet Day has become a way for tech companies to blow their own trumpets about their commitment to user safety, including Microsoft. This year is no different, and Microsoft is among those using it as a platform for vainglorious self-promotion.
But for 2026, Microsoft is focusing on a single idea – that safety should not be an afterthought but is something that should be designed into all online services. The company is aware of the concerns people have about the progress and implications of AI, and it touches on some of these worries.
A lot of the focus of Safer Internet Day is on keeping younger internet users safe, and this means looking at social media and gaming – or the blend that has emerged of the two. Speaking to this, Microsoft talks about using gaming worlds as educational tool, specifically Minecraft.
We’re […] excited to announce the latest release in Minecraft Education’s CyberSafe series: CyberSafe: Bad Connection? This series of immersive Minecraft worlds and educational resources is free and helps translate complex risks into fun learning experiences that meet young people in their favorite blocky world. Bad Connection?—the fifth in the series—reflects our commitment to evolving to meet new and challenging risks, with a focus on tackling serious risks related to online recruitment and radicalization. Learn more about how to access this new Minecraft world here.
The CyberSafe series has reached more than 80 million downloads since 2022 through a partnership between Minecraft Education, Xbox, and Microsoft, helping a generation of young players build the agency, resilience, and digital citizenship they need to navigate an increasingly online world. As part of our commitment to ensure people have the knowledge and skills they need to benefit from technology and stay safe, Microsoft Elevate is empowering educators and students with tools and guidance to build safer, more responsible digital habits, recognizing that AI is transforming how people learn, work, and connect. Our commitment to helping young people access technology safely is also why we’ve partnered with organizations, like the National 4-H Council to prepare young people for an AI-powered world through AI literacy and digital safety curriculum and game-based learning with Minecraft Education.
Microsoft says that it recognizes the need, and its responsibility, to deliver age-appropriate experiences for younger users. This is something that is highlighted by the results of its annual Global Online Safety Survey. Now in its tenth year, the survey provides important insights into how young people experience the internet.
This year’s Global Online Safety Survey also highlights the complexity of the digital environment young people now inhabit. Teens’ exposure to risk rose again, with hate speech (35%), scams (29%), and cyberbullying (23%) among the most commonly experienced harms. At the same time, teens demonstrated striking resilience: 72% talked to someone after experiencing a risk, and reporting behavior increased for the second consecutive year. But worries about the misuse of AI continue, underscoring again why safety-by-design for AI is essential, not optional.
If you want to work through the full results of Microsoft’s Global Online Safety Survey and country-level summaries, you can do so here.
But Safer Internet Day is not just about looking at what has happened and what is happening – it is about planning for the future. With this is mind, Microsoft says:
Looking ahead, we know we need to continue to build strong guardrails to tackle acute risks and to leverage our experience while being informed by new research, new perspectives, and new technologies. The application process closed yesterday for our first AI Futures Youth Council, to be comprised of teens from across the US and EU. We’re looking forward to bringing those teens together soon for a first meeting to get their direct feedback on the role they want emerging technology to play in their lives and how we can best support their safety.
Read more here.
