Trust & Safety is evolving fast. From AI-driven abuse and deepfakes to rising standards, user expectations, and new regulations, 2025 demands proactive detection and hybrid safety models. These trends reflect the collective challenges and opportunities ahead for every trust & safety team.

As Dr. Rebecca Portnoff reminds us, a model’s effectiveness depends on everything around it: the humans, the processes, and the safeguards that hold it accountable. 🎧 Hear Dr. Portnoff expand on this topic in our Humans in the Loop webinar: https://teamthorn.co/3WXqFQZ

You can design for an ideal community. But you have to moderate the real one. That means moderators need to learn from the community that exists, not necessarily the one they planned for. 🎧 Learn more in our webinar Humans in the Loop: Building Ethical AI for Content Moderation teamthorn.co/3WXqFQZ

Not every moderation decision needs a human, but every system still needs human judgment. As Dave Willner puts it, the real question is at what level can people add the most value? 🎧 Hear more from Dave in our Humans in the Loop webinar: https://teamthorn.co/3WXqFQZ

When it comes to designing technology for teens, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. In our latest Safe Space episode, Lauren Jonas, Head of Youth Wellbeing at OpenAI, shares how her team approached new parental controls for ChatGPT. https://youtu.be/s9QMo5LJS1Y

“Humans vs. AI” is the wrong question. It’s about designing balance in your system, where humans bring context, and AI brings scale. How are you building checks and balances into your content moderation process today? https://teamthorn.co/3WXqFQZ

Lauren Jonas from OpenAI jumps into the Safe Space Lightning Round and blows through our list of questions. She had an answer for everything and knew exactly where she was going. ⚡Check it out!⚡ https://youtu.be/tREx481sygA

The same curiosity and problem-solving instinct that drives founders can also fuel meaningful progress in child protection. But in this space, practitioners must keep an eye on building carefully, learning continuously, and acting with care for the people their technology impacts most.

In the latest episode of Safe Space, we sit down w/ Lauren Jonas, Head of Youth Wellbeing at OpenAI. If you care about how tech, design, & child protection intersect, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/s9QMo5LJS1Y #SafeSpacePodcast #ChildSafety

In our latest Safe Space episode, Ryn Linthicum from Anthropic explains why wellness for trust & safety professionals is essential to user safety. When you protect your team, they can better protect users. Tell us - what's working for your team? https://youtu.be/rrhdY7bppr8

⚡LIGHTNING ROUND guest Ryn Linthicum provides an insightful take on our fast-paced trust and safety questions. With an extensive background in academia and human behavior, Ryn takes a thoughtful approach to these fun topics. https://youtu.be/YbLA-G_CKl0

In the latest Safe Space episode, Ryn Linthicum from Anthropic perfectly captures what effective trust & safety work really looks like: it's about building robust, multi-layered protections. Listen to the full conversation and Ryn’s thoughtful approach to T&S: https://youtu.be/rrhdY7bppr8

For many T&S professionals, the field didn’t even exist when they were growing up. Like Ryn, surfing early social networks was the real-life experience they would later put into practice professionally. Hear how Ryn's unconventional path is shaping the future of AI safety: youtu.be/rrhdY7bppr8

Did you catch the latest edition of Digital Defenders Digest? Each month we gather the top headlines in trust & safety news and give a quick summary of the stories impacting online child safety. Here's the latest from Cassie Coccaro, Communications Lead at Thorn. https://teamthorn.co/42jMkGb

Anthropic’s Ryn Linthicum highlights how building safety into the process, Safety by Design, is a much more effective, proactive solution for user protection. Listen to Ryn’s episode to learn about their journey from aspiring astronaut to data-driven, human-centered T&S expert: youtu.be/rrhdY7bppr8

New Safe Space Episode! We enjoyed an insightful conversation with Ryn Linthicum of Anthropic. Ryn’s research driven approach to user experience, human psychology, & emotional well-being provides a fascinating point of view on the future of AI technology & user safety. https://youtu.be/rrhdY7bppr8

Thorn's 2024 Youth Perspectives data shows online sexual interactions reported by 1 in 3 boys aged 9-to-12. The data suggests perpetrators are targeting demographics typically considered lower-risk. Learn more data & insights that can strengthen your safety operations: https://teamthorn.co/4pjIRRW

⚡LIGHTNING ROUND with David Polgar⚡ David provided a great point of view, of some answers we haven’t heard before on the Lightning Round. Give it a watch and let us know your thoughts on his answers. https://youtu.be/IDlG7PkelWk?feature=shared

Thorn's 2024 Youth Perspectives Report reveals critical shifts in online risks. • High rates of online sexual interactions for boys aged 9-to-12 years old • Declining help-seeking behaviors among highest-risk demographics

If you work in trust & safety, you know it’s more than a job. You didn't choose this field for the easy path or the recognition. You chose it because you believe the internet can be better. Listen to our episode w/ David Polgar about the humans behind the work: https://www.youtube.com/@SaferbyThorn

In our most recent Safe Space podcast with David Polgar of @alltechishuman.bsky.social, we talk about the responsibility and accountability of “tech for good” and why it requires a strong community in the space. Listen to our conversation here: https://safespacepodcast.buzzsprout.com/2439525/follow

Did you catch the latest edition of Digital Defenders Digest? Each month we gather the top headlines in trust & safety news and give a quick summary of the stories impacting online child safety. Here's the latest from Cassie Coccaro, Communications Lead at Thorn. www.linkedin.com/pulse/progre...

New Safe Space Episode Alert! We sat down with David Polgar, founder of @alltechishuman.bsky.social, who built a 55,000-member community focused on responsible tech. David's optimism is contagious and will get you thinking about trust & safety in fresh ways. https://www.youtube.com/@SaferbyThorn

⚡LIGHTNING ROUND with Del Harvey⚡ Sometimes the best insights come in the blink of an eye! We asked trust and safety legend @delbius.bsky.social some quick questions and her answers were pure gold. What do you think about Del's answers? Watch the full lightning round: youtu.be/D5gCU7PZx-I

Even though T&S is a mature field, it’s still constantly changing. As @delbius.bsky.social, legendary T&S leader, says here, old challenges come around again in new ways.  Hear Del’s insight into T&S work, honed by more than 10 years leading the team at Twitter: www.youtube.com/@SaferbyThorn

This insight from trust and safety legend @delbius.bsky.social gets to the heart of why this work matters. We want to know: What drives you most in trust and safety work? Watch the latest episode of Safe Space, and let us know why you do what you do: www.youtube.com/@SaferbyThorn

The future of child safety isn't about having all the answers—it's about staying curious, adaptable, and ready for what's next. Hear more of @delbius.bsky.social's insights on building resilient safety approaches in the latest Safe Space episode: safespacepodcast.buzzsprout.com/2439525

What an incredible few days at #TrustCon! Thank you to everyone at the Trust & Safety Professional Association for bringing this incredible community together. And thanks to everyone who attended one of our panels, said “Hi” in the elevator, stopped us for a hallway chat, or visited our booth!

@delbius.bsky.social built Twitter's trust and safety organization from the ground up, leading the team for over a decade as the platform scaled from scrappy startup to global phenomenon. She pioneered approaches to online safety that became industry standards, and now she joins us on Safe Space.

If you’re at #TrustCon this week, we’d love to connect. Our team is waiting for you today and tomorrow just outside of the ballroom. Come say 👋 and meet our experts. Hope to see you soon! #trustandsafety Request to meet with the team at TrustCon: get.safer.io/upcoming-ind...

John Buckley of Lego gets into the hot seat for the Safe Space Lightning Round! Hear his first thought on everything from pushing buttons on the internet to the best piece of advice he’s ever received. Never miss an episode: safespacepodcast.buzzsprout.com #trustandsafety

⬆️ Level up your #TrustCon agenda with these sessions featuring Thorn experts and special guests. Request to meet with the team at TrustCon: get.safer.io/upcoming-ind... #trustandsafety

To help companies navigate this evolving risk, we’ve developed a practical checklist of child safety considerations tailored specifically for GenAI systems. Download it here: safer.io/resources/sa...

Wonder what threats are on the horizon? Looking for guidance on Safety by Design for generative AI? Want to make a product suggestion? Stop by Table 4 on Monday or Tuesday to talk with our team. Request to meet with the team at TrustCon: get.safer.io/upcoming-ind... #trustcon #trustandsafety

ICYMI: Thorn put out a whitepaper for AI companies about the importance of child safety red teaming to help mitigate this misuse. Red teaming is a critical step toward building AI responsibly. If you’re not red teaming for child safety yet, this is where to start: info.thorn.org/red-teaming-...

In our latest Safe Space episode, John Buckley addresses one of the biggest misconceptions about big tech companies: that executives or algorithms make decisions w/o considering users' needs. Listen to John explain why the human element matters in trust & safety work: www.youtube.com/@SaferbyThorn

John's journey took him from nonprofit work in Ireland to leading child safety efforts at major companies, and he believes that internal advocacy is where he can make the biggest difference. If you met someone passionate about protecting children online, what path would you recommend?

The 2024 @ncmec.org CyberTipline Report reveals both progress and persistent gaps in the fight against online child sexual exploitation. Explore Thorn’s takeaways from the report and learn how platforms can help build a safer world for children in the digital age: www.thorn.org/blog/what-th...

In this powerful clip from our latest Safe Space episode, John Buckley shares the university lecture that shifted his entire career trajectory. "I can't unhear what I've just heard. I think this is the space I need to work." Listen to John's full story: youtu.be/88l4DDgcMf0

🚨1 in 7 sextortion victims reported self-harm behaviors. For trust and safety teams, this isn't just another data point—it’s a real child feeling trapped, isolated, and without other options. The psychological toll of sextortion demands urgent action. Learn more: safer.io/resources/th...

New episode out! John Buckley's insights on navigating trust & safety in 2025 are essential viewing for anyone in the tech, policy, or child safety sectors. His advice for aspiring trust & safety professionals: "Be a Swiss army knife" & "don't drink the Kool-Aid too much." youtu.be/88l4DDgcMf0?...

‼️New research: 94% of sextortion threats occur via digital forums, w/ social media & messaging apps as primary venues. Findings highlight: enhancing detection systems, addressing all forms of sextortion, & implementing cross-platform collaboration to disrupt abuse patterns safer.io/resources/th...

Aaron Rodericks, head of trust and safety at Bluesky, jumps into the Safe Space Lightning Round! Hear his first take on everything from memes to career advice. Get the top-of-mind thoughts from one of the leaders in platform trust and safety. www.youtube.com/watch?v=apIg...

Is participatory moderation the future of content moderation? @aaron.bsky.team shares how Bluesky's unique, decentralized nature lets users curate their own labels & report harmful content. A great example is Blacksky, by @rudyfraser.com, which offers users independent, self-governed social spaces.

Every day, children are targeted through online messages—often in ways that are hard to spot. Safer Predict helps detect these risks before they escalate. 👉 Learn more about Safer’s CSE Text Classifier: get.safer.io/hubfs/Safer/...

In our latest episode of Safe Space, now available wherever you get your podcasts, our guest, Aaron Rodericks, reveals how he stays centered in a demanding industry like trust and safety. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Take a listen today and see if Aaron’s practices or insights inspire you.

NEW EPISODE: John Starr talks with @aaron.bsky.team, Head of Trust & Safety at Bluesky! From public servant to tech expert, Aaron shares why breaking into trust & safety is harder than ever and why specialists matter. Watch the full conversation now! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebeG...

Season 2 of our podcast, Safe Space, drops May 28th with our first guest @aaron.bsky.team of Bluesky! Check out the trailer for a preview of what's in store — a great series of interviews with some of the most interesting people in trust & safety. Subscribe now: safespacepodcast.buzzsprout.com

🚨Big news for trust & safety teams: the Take It Down Act has officially been signed into law. The Take It Down Act now requires platforms to take new measures to play a deeper role in preventing this harmful behavior. Is your trust & safety team ready? Learn more here: safer.io/resources/th...

AI is creating new risks for digital platforms—with the rise of explicit deepfake images of minors. In her interview with PBS NewsHour, Thorn's Melissa Stroebel addressed this growing risk and what tech platforms must do now to respond. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNqG...