Cyber Safety Guy Logging Off for Christmas
After a tough December, I’m taking some time to recharge with my Rock.
As we approach Christmas, I would normally find myself writing a “survival guide” for parents—tips on setting up new consoles safely or managing screen time when the excitement of Christmas morning hits. Whilst those things remain important, this year, my message is a little different.
If you’ve read my recent post, Goodnight My Pebble, you’ll know that December has been a very difficult month in our house. Having to say goodbye to Leffe, My Pebble and emotional support, has left a quiet void in our home that is hard to fill. He was the “pebble” that kept me grounded when the dark clouds of C-PTSD rolled in, and losing him has reminded me just how fragile and precious our time with loved ones really is.
That is why, for this Christmas, I am going to practice what I often preach but rarely do well enough myself: I am logging off.
⚡Please don’t forget to react & restack if you appreciate my work. More engagement means more people might see it. ⚡
I am stepping away from the feeds, the news and the endless stream of online safety updates to focus entirely on the person who holds it all together for me, my wife, Colleen. She has been “My Rock” through every battle I’ve faced and especially now, as we navigate this grief together, she deserves my undivided attention.
We need this time to just be, to support each other and to find some peace without the distraction of a glowing screen.
I encourage you all to do the same. The digital world will still be there when you get back. The latest app craze, the newest safety settings, the online debates, they can all wait.
What can’t wait are the moments happening right in front of you. Whether it’s watching a movie with your children, walking the dog (believe me when I say I really miss that one!), or just sitting quietly with your partner in a comfortable silence, these are the connections that actually recharge and benefit us all.
So, from my family to yours, I wish you a safe, peaceful, and disconnected Christmas. Hold your loved ones close.
I’ll be back in the New Year, ready to continue the fight for a safer Internet for your children.
But for now, I’m going offline to be with my Rock.
P.S. It has been a busy year, and here is a recap of every post I have written since returning from my mental health break earlier in the year.
Cyber Safety Guy Blog Post Timeline (2025)
December
Dec 11: The Simple Question the Roblox CEO Refused to Answer. (And Why It Matters)
Dec 7: Goodnight My Pebble
Dec 3: Meet Chromie & Phish: The New Faces of Online Safety
November
Nov 26: Banning the Feed: Will It Work?
Nov 25: New Demands for Accountability - Cyber Safety Guy Update
Nov 19: Small Subscriptions, Big Impact: My Promise Delivered.........Again
Nov 18: Roblox Introduces Mandatory Age Verification to Lock Down Chat
Nov 15: Recent Updates - Grooming Crimes Double as New Laws Tackle AI-Generated Abuse
Nov 9: Is That Real? Teaching Children to Spot Deepfakes and AI Manipulation
Nov 1: The Unseen Toll: Why I’ve Dedicated Over a Decade to Children’s Online Safety
October
Oct 31: Gotta Spend ‘Em All? Understanding the Risks of Pokémon TCG Pocket for Children
Oct 28: Cyber Safety Guy Review: Salfeld Child Control
Oct 21: Digital Literacy is Non-Negotiable: Preparing Children for the Manipulative Age of AI
Oct 15: Cyber Safety Guy Roundup October 2025
Oct 4: From TikTok to Crisis: Understanding the Growing Concerns Over Online Platforms and Young Minds
September
Sep 30: The Digital Wild West: Why Children Are Unavoidably Exposed to Harmful and Violent Content
Sep 12: Cyber Safety Guy - Online Child Safety - Teens 13+ Edition
Sep 5: From Stress to Strength: Helping Children Navigate Life’s Pressures
Sep 1: Cyber Safety Guy - Online Child Safety - Children up to 13 Years Edition
August
Aug 29: The Ultimate Back-to-School Guide: Preparedness for Parents
Aug 22: Cyber Safety Guy - Online Child Safety - Parents|Teachers|Guardians Edition
Aug 20: VPNs for Kids: A Dangerous Shortcut to Online Harms
Aug 13: Not Just “Teen Drama”: The Serious Reality of Online Relationship Abuse
Aug 8: Logging Back In: My Return to the World of Child Safety
Earlier in 2025
Jun 29: Even Cyber Safety Guys Need a Break: It’s Ok Not To Be Ok
May 2: Virtual Pet Therapy #20
As always, thank you for your support. Please share this across your social media, and if you do have any comments, questions, or concerns, then feel free to reach out to me here or on BlueSky, as I am always happy to spend some time helping to protect children online.
Remember that becoming a paid subscriber means supporting a charity that is very close to my heart and doing amazing things for people. Childline, I will donate all subscriptions collected every six months, as I don’t do any of this for financial gain.
