Dataverse 2025 Award Ceremony

In early 2025, Hong Kong saw a 49% surge in cyber incidents, with over 8,100 reported cases, many involving phishing scams disguised as everyday platforms that young people use.

Cybersecurity isn’t just an adult issue. With students constantly online for learning, socializing, and even making payments, the risks are growing. Dataverse 2025 became a timely platform for students to not only understand these threats but also step up as peer educators, using creativity to raise awareness in their own communities.

Building on the foundation we laid last year with Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) , we were thrilled to welcome AlipayHK, one of Hong Kong’s leading digital payment platforms, as our new strategic partner. Their support helped us bring real-world relevance to the conversation. Where there's money, there's risk — and where there's risk, education is essential.

As a youth-driven NGO, we’ve always believed learning should be engaging and student-led. So while students once again explored our gamified self-learning platform to deepen their understanding of cybersecurity, this year we took things further. A new KOL-led workshop gave them hands-on experience with storytelling, video production, and strategies for reaching audiences on social media.

The Dataverse 2025 Award Ceremony wrapped up with a red-carpet, Oscar-themed celebration honoring our student creators, who took home not just prizes but a lasting sense of pride in using their voices for something meaningful.

Dataverse is not just a competition. It’s a reminder that when we trust students with real issues, real tools, and real platforms, they don’t just learn — they lead. And in a world where a single click can change everything, that kind of leadership matters more than ever.