Drcatherineknibbs

08/08/2026

Technology can help children stay connected, but it's never a substitute for feeling truly seen, heard, and understood.

The strongest protective factor in a child's digital life isn't another app or setting, it's a trusted relationship. When children know they can talk openly, they're far more likely to ask for help when they need it.

Ready to deepen your understanding? Explore our courses.

07/08/2026

When UK schools return in September, do you think they're ready for cases like this?

This is just one small example of where schools will struggle without proper policies in place for the smartphone ban.

What happens when a serious case review or legal dispute is brought to the school because of a parent's complaint? Can the school justify their actions and protect their staff?

Get in touch if you're concerned or use the link in my bio to take my free quiz and see how your organization scores in terms of readiness.

06/08/2026

A few months ago I spoke to a large room of psychotherapists to address the issues we will be facing with children and teens. I covered the crisis of CSAM and and this little snippet here about the profession as a whole and what we need to start thinking about as we take 10 platforms offline.

We have a unique relationship with young people that provides us with a unique opportunity to consider the process and issues that will face us outside of the other medical approaches.

There currently stands no guidance for us and this is for many reasons, one of which is government not knowing what to do downstream of this ban because … well truth be told they probably don’t know how this will affect specific jobs and roles.

If you are a therapist in private practice rather than a school get in touch as your safeguarding protocols may need an audit and consult. If you’re a trainer, student placement, small SME, charity and beyond your processes will need to follow due diligence around this and are you cybertrauma ready and informed?

And even if you’re not a therapist you’ll need this information especially when it comes to how you support young people and children after the ban is in place.

Take the assessment in my linktree to see where you sit with your readiness and knowledge or Get in touch.

06/08/2026

Children don't learn about technology from screens alone. They learn by watching us too.

Healthy digital habits start with honest conversations, realistic expectations, and leading by example, not fear. The goal isn't to fight technology, but to help families use it more intentionally.

Looking for practical, evidence-based guidance? Visit www.catherineknibbs.co.uk to learn more.

05/08/2026

03/08/2026

Phones will be banned in UK schools this coming September. Are you ready?

If you're feeling unsure, check out the quiz linked in my bio or get in touch.

03/08/2026

When September rolls around and the smartphone ban for UK schools needs to be enforced - will schools and teachers be ready?

My work involves supporting organizations that include children in making their safeguarding policies airtight for the scenarios nobody thinks about, whether that's schools, youth clubs, charities, the police or mental health professionals.

So here's just some of the scenarios to think about when it comes to schools trying to enforce the smartphone ban.

If you're not sure if your organization is equipped, check out the quiz linked in my bio because it's not just limited to schools!

01/08/2026

I’m incredibly honoured to be named a Finalist for Cyber Citizen of the Year at the National Cyber Awards 2026.

This recognition means so much because it reflects a journey dedicated to helping people understand the human side of cybersecurity, from online harms and cyber trauma to child online safety, education and creating safer digital experiences for children, families and professionals.

To everyone who has supported my work, attended my training, shared my content, collaborated with me or trusted me along the way, thank you. Your support has made this journey possible.

Congratulations to all of the finalists. I’m looking forward to celebrating with everyone at the National Cyber Awards on 28 September 2026.

30/07/2026

Department for Education hack!
DfE breach reportedly exposes the name’s emails and phone numbers of education Staff.
This has now allegedly been sold on the darknet setting teachers up for phishing and smishing attacks that could expose data on school issued devices, the ones that often hold children’s education data and it seems nobody is talking about it.
…why is this not front page News?

28/07/2026

My PhD is finished and i'm officially Dr. Catherine Knibbs. Now it's time for you to understand what I discovered in my research.

I'll be making more videos talking about my PhD but one of the most important takeaways is that viewing harmful content online or through a screen is no different to seeing it in real life.

For much of my career in the space of online harm people have dismissed the experience of 'Cyber Trauma' saying things like 'It's just a video' or 'Just turn off the device'.

But it's clear to me that children are reporting symptoms of trauma after viewing innapropriate content. This isn't limited to online spaces but mlvies and TV shows.

This means that safeguarding professionals and parents need to pay attention to what children are viewing seriously.

I work with for this very reason. It's an app that families can use together to get reports on what kind of content is being viewed. It's not a life tracker.

It gives you guidance and advice (that I've helped build) for families to manage and protect their loved ones from harmful content online.