Parents and caregivers will be provided with tools to protect children from conflicts that arise in the digital world — before crisis hits.

Raleigh International Bermuda is hosting its third Brave Conversations session, led by Chardonaé Rawlins through her child and adolescent mental health specialist service Simply Bloom.

Her presentation on Saturday, titled When Conflict Meets Digital Spaces, will explore the realities young people face when friendships, relationships and conflict extend into group chats, social media and other digital spaces.

The Brave Conversations series complements Raleigh’s direct work with young people by providing the adults around them with access to information, professional expertise and practical tools.

Ms Rawlins said: “Digital spaces are now a very real part of how young people build friendships, communicate and experience conflict, so we cannot separate what happens online from their emotional wellbeing and relationships offline.

“For parents and caregivers, the goal is not to know every app or monitor every interaction, but to feel confident enough to have the conversations that matter.

“I want this workshop to help adults better understand what young people are navigating, recognise when something may need more support or intervention and leave with practical ways to guide them through conflict, boundaries and relationships in a way that keeps communication open.

“We want young people to know they can come to the adults in their lives before a situation becomes a crisis.”

Raleigh said that while much of the conversation around young people and social media today focuses on access, restrictions and bans, the workshop will focus on how digital environments can influence relationships and intensify conflict, when adult intervention may be necessary and practical ways to guide young people through boundaries, conflict and safer decision-making.

Denae Burchall, Raleigh’s executive director, said: “Our young people do not develop in isolation.

“As Raleigh continues to invest in their development through experiential education, we recognise the importance of also investing in the people supporting them.

“Brave Conversations allows us to bring parents and caregivers into that work, connecting them with expertise and practical tools around issues affecting young people today.”

The topic of digital media and its effect on children has been prevalent in recent years.

In March, findings from the Big Up Yaself National Mini-Youth Conference indicated that 70 per cent of senior school respondents reported that their parents or guardians did not monitor their screen time.

In the same month, advocacy group Smartphone Free Childhood Bermuda called on parents to get behind a global movement to reduce harmful smartphone and social media use among young people — delaying smartphones until at least age 14 and social media until age 16.

Again in the same month, the Government announced in Parliament that it would be relaunching of its Cybertips programme, aimed at informing parents about safe and responsible internet use.

In September 2025, Bermuda’s public school system announced stricter enforcement of its electronic device policy, citing concerns including cyberbullying and unsafe social media content.

Ms Burchall added: “While there has been significant public discussion around digital safety, screen-time restrictions and the banning of digital devices, Raleigh International Bermuda recognises that protective measures are only one part of the solution.

“Young people will continue to engage with digital technology, whether in settings where access is permitted or as they transition into adulthood.

“Protective measures may limit exposure, but education and parental engagement help young people develop the skills to navigate digital environments in which their social relationships are developing and being tested throughout their lives beyond childhood.”

The two-hour workshop is aimed at adults with youngsters aged 14 to 17 in their care and will run from 2pm to 4pm.

Tickets are $35 per participant with the aim of making the guidance accessible to families across the community. The location will be shared upon registration.

Thanks to donors that support the Brave Programme, bursaries are available for anyone in need.

Previous Brave Conversations sessions have addressed substance use among teenagers, and youth finances.

To register, e-mail info@raleigh.bm. For more information, visit www.raleigh.bm.