Dataverse 2026 Award Ceremony: When Young Creators Became Cybersecurity's Loudest Voice

The digital world young people navigate today changes faster than ever before. Cyber threats evolve more quickly than any curriculum can adapt. Our most powerful defence is to help young people understand the patterns behind these threats, so they can spot new risks on their own and warn the people around them.

That's exactly why Dataverse 2026 exists. Through our gamified self-learning platform and an IG Reels creation competition, thousands of young people explored topics ranging from data privacy and malware to social media safety, and turned that knowledge into compelling short films designed to reach their peers.

This year we witnessed how this generation chose to tell those stories and it never ceased to amaze us. From original songs and AI-generated visuals to scripted narratives and creative animations, students didn't just absorb cybersecurity knowledge, they reimagined it in formats entirely their own.🎬

We were honoured to co-organise this initiative with the Digital Policy Office (DPO) and the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC). The event was also supported by the Education Bureau (EDB), with the Anti-Deception Alliance (Education) (ADAE) serving as our strategic partner. At the Award Ceremony, we were privileged to welcome Mr. Rick Chan, Chief Systems Manager (Project Governance and Cybersecurity, Digital Policy Office, and Ir Wilson Wong, MH, CEO, Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited, delivered an inspiring address to our students. For leaders at the helm of Hong Kong's digital policy and internet governance to stand in the room to speak directly to our young people was a moment that carried real weight. Their presence was a clear signal that youth cybersecurity education is no longer just a community initiative. It is a recognised and urgent priority on Hong Kong's broader digital safety agenda, and that affirmation means everything to us.

Adding to the energy of the day, we were joined by three creative industry professionals for a candid fireside chat: Mr. Grant Yim from Media Studio, Mr. Tony Hui from MORE Digital , and Mr. Emerald Lee from Time Will Tell Limited. Together, they opened up about navigating a career in the creative industry and shared their honest perspectives on how AI is reshaping the creative landscape. The room was completely locked in. Students hung on to every word, and the conversations didn't stop when the session ended. Many took the initiative to approach our speakers afterwards. Moments like these remind us that the right connections at the right time can genuinely change a young person's direction.

Thank you to everyone who made Dataverse 2026 possible and congratulations to all the awardees. The creativity, courage and commitment to making the internet a safer place is truly something to be proud of.