Unlocking a better web: Why we’re backing the UK’s first Online Safety Trust Mark
We’ve all been there: scrolling online and wondering whether a website or app is actually safe to use.
At giffgaff, we believe the internet is full of incredible opportunities to learn, earn, and connect. But staying safe online shouldn't feel like reading a 50-page contract.
That’s why we’re proud to be a founding member of the Online Responsibility Network (ORN), a coalition of brands, charities and experts working together to make digital spaces safer and more transparent.
To raise awareness and launch the new initiative, ORN has nominated 24 September as the UK’s first Online Responsibility Day.
A seal of approval for the web
Think about how you check nutrition labels before buying food. Online, we’re often left to guess what’s trustworthy. Research from ORN shows that 76% of Brits say they are far more likely to use platforms carrying an official online safety seal of approval.
To give people that clarity, ORN has created the Online Safety Trust Mark. Rather than restricting what you do online, it gives you simple, clear signals to help you make informed choices.
giffgaff hasn't just been cheering from the sidelines; we’ve been partnering with ORN to pilot the audit behind the Trust Mark, helping bring it to life and using the framework to improve our own approach to online trust and safety.
giffgaff CEO, Kate Dohaney, says:
“Connectivity creates real opportunities for people to learn, earn and get ahead. But people also need to feel safe online. That takes more than compliance.
It takes brands and platforms working together, sharing what works and finding practical ways to protect people without losing everything that makes the digital world useful and exciting.
Supporting ORN gives us a chance to keep learning, improve what we do at giffgaff and help build a safer, more responsible digital world.”
Three quick internet checks for today
To mark Online Responsibility Day, campaigners like Anna Whitehouse (Mother Pukka) are encouraging everyone to try Three Simple Checks next time you log on:
Check your accounts: Spend two minutes reviewing privacy settings and security tools.
Check your feed: Pause to consider who created the content you're seeing and whether it's accurate.
Check your platforms: Look out for brands that show a clear commitment to transparency and user safety.
We’re thrilled to stand alongside fellow founding members like Resolver, Save the Children, Samaritans, Freedom2Hear, BluTui, Manchester Metropolitan University and Liverpool John Moores University to help keep the digital world open, exciting, and safe for everyone.