24th February 2026
Foróige Dublin 15 has officially launched ‘Off Limits’, a powerful youth led awareness campaign encouraging young people to think before sharing explicit images online and to better understand consent, respect and the real life consequences of digital behaviour.
Developed by 13 young people from the Dublin 15 area, the campaign is the culmination of over 18 months of learning and discussion through Foróige’s Real U Relationships and Sexuality Education programme. Through open conversations about boundaries, healthy relationships and online pressures, participants identified the sharing of explicit images as a growing and increasingly normalised issue affecting their peers.
Motivated by what they were hearing in these sessions, the young people decided to create a campaign that would genuinely connect with others their age. Rather than being told what to do by adults, they wanted to develop messages that felt real, honest and reflective of their lived experience.
At the centre of Off Limits are three short films titled The Sender, The Forwarder and The Bystander. Using a day in their shoes approach, each film follows a first person narrative that illustrates how a single decision can have emotional, social and legal consequences. The films clearly communicate that sharing explicit images without consent is a criminal offence under Irish law, even when those involved are under 18. By telling these stories through peer voices, the campaign challenges harmful norms and encourages young people to pause, reflect and respect boundaries online.
The campaign was launched at a special event attended by young people, families, Foróige staff, An Garda Síochána, education and health representatives and local public representatives. The screening of the films prompted a strong emotional response from the audience and sparked meaningful discussion about the realities young people face in digital spaces.
Several of the young people involved in the project addressed attendees directly. They spoke about the pressures young people experience, the normalisation of requests for explicit images and the emotional harm caused when images are shared without consent. They highlighted the responsibility of young men in particular to challenge harmful behaviour and emphasised that real strength lies in respect and protecting others’ dignity. Their contributions reinforced the importance of open dialogue, awareness and collective responsibility.
The campaign was informed by both international and Irish research highlighting the scale of the issue and was developed in partnership with We the People. It was supported by Tusla, the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board and the HSE, reflecting a shared commitment to preventative education, youth participation and the promotion of healthy, respectful relationships.
Off Limits demonstrates the power of youth led initiatives in addressing complex and sensitive issues. By trusting young people to lead, Foróige has supported the creation of an authentic and impactful campaign that speaks directly to their peers. Most importantly, Off Limits reminds young people that respect, consent and responsibility matter online just as much as they do offline and that every decision in the digital world carries real consequences.
