Evidence-Based · Updated 2025

The 4C Model of Online Risk

Based on two decades of child online safety research, every risk a child encounters online falls into one of four categories. This framework, developed by academics and adopted by child protection organizations across Europe, gives parents and educators a shared language to identify threats, and gives kids a mental map to recognize them in real life before they escalate.

Content Risks

What kids see

Contact Risks

Who reaches out

Conduct Risks

How kids act

Contract Risks

What kids buy or share

41%

of teens can't verify online info

1 in 3

teens has experienced cyberbullying

Mental Health Cross-Cutting Concerns

Problematic Social Media Use

Addiction-like symptoms including withdrawal, conflict with family, and neglect of real-life responsibilities and relationships.

Depression & Anxiety

Systematically associated with heavy use, cyberbullying exposure, and appearance-related social comparison.

Sleep Disruption

Late-night scrolling and incoming alerts fragment sleep, a major independent predictor of depressive symptoms in adolescents.

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