Alert Desk

What is the digital diary?

The Digital Diary is a structured method we use to understand digital safety through lived experience. Over 7 days, a diarist documents what their online life looks like in real time-what platforms they use, how safe those spaces feel, what harms show up, what actions they take to protect themselves, and how those moments spill into offline life (like transport, school, home, rest, and relationships). It is designed to hold both data and feeling-because digital harm is never only “online, ” it lives in bodies and daily routines. As you read this diary snapshot, hold one key idea gently: a “safe” rating doesn’t always mean the absence of harm. In the diary, safety is often something the diarist creates through boundaries and careful choices. So the visuals don’t just tell us what happened, they show us the everyday labour it takes to stay connected, stay afloat, and stay as safe as possible.