{"id":483,"date":"2026-07-02T10:10:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T09:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/cyber-institute-news\/?p=483"},"modified":"2026-07-02T10:14:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T09:14:37","slug":"icss-co-produced-tv-series-generation-cyber-for-11-15-year-olds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/cyber-institute-news\/2026\/07\/02\/icss-co-produced-tv-series-generation-cyber-for-11-15-year-olds\/","title":{"rendered":"iCSS co-produced TV series \u201cGeneration Cyber\u201d for 11-15-year-olds"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS)<\/a> at the University of Kent co-produced a new educational TV series \u201cGeneration Cyber<\/strong>\u201d, and three University of Kent researchers contributed to the production in different ways. The TV series aims to help young people aged 11 to 15 navigate the fast-changing cyber world. The series also aims to close gender and diversity gaps in the cyber sector. Currently, just 22% of the UK\u2019s cyber workforce is female, with even lower representation from ethnic minorities and disadvantaged groups.\u00a0\u00a0The production of the TV series was led by KMTV<\/a>, the local TV station of the Kent and Medway region. This is the first TV series on cyber security awareness co-produced by iCSS, after three animated videos iCSS produced between 2022 and 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The two-part documentary series follows young presenters Henley and Eleanor as they team up with two PhD researchers to investigate the world of cyber, crime and AI across Kent and the\u00a0South East England.\u00a0Informed by iCSS and the Kent & Medway Cyber Cluster (KMCC)<\/a>, it\u2019s both curriculum-aligned and rooted in the latest research.\u00a0The documentary was made possible thanks to funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)<\/a> and Innovate UK<\/a>\u2019s Cyber Local 2025-2026 scheme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new TV series, which builds on the success of\u00a0previous\u00a0entries in the Generation franchise<\/a>, including\u00a0Generation Food,\u00a0Generation Why and Generation Genome, is a direct response to an urgent regional and national need. According to the\u00a02023 ICILS (International Computer and Information Literacy Study)<\/a>, only a quarter of UK students are proficient in basic digital skills, while shortages in the cyber workforce remain severe. In Medway alone, one in four adults lack even basic digital literacy, highlighting the importance of engaging the next generation early.<\/p>\n

The first episode delves into how young people feel about online safety, algorithms and a potential social media ban. In Episode two, University of Kent PhD student Adel\u00a0Elzemity<\/a>, who is also an iCSS ECR (Early Career Researcher) Member, investigates deepfakes,\u00a0ethics,\u00a0misinformation\u00a0and AI chatbots. In another segment, iCSS Associate Member Dr Jim A.C. Everett<\/a>, a psychologist in the School of Psychology of the University of Kent leading a 5-year project<\/a> on the psychology and ethics of AI , travels to Westminster with the presenter, Eleanor, to discuss AI safety with MP Dawn Butler<\/a> and Baroness Beeban Kidron<\/a>. In addition, iCSS Director Shujun Li<\/a>, who is Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Kent\u2019s School of Computing and Executive Producer and Research Lead for the DSIT-Innovate UK funded project, also appear in Episode two for a deepfake educational session at the Five Acre Wood School<\/a> in Maidstone, a Foundation District Special School for children and young people with profound, severe and complex learning difficulties.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of\u00a0students at\u00a0Walderslade\u00a0and Greenacre Schools Partnership<\/a> attended the live panel discussion filmed for the show, which saw industry experts, politicians,\u00a0researchers\u00a0and young\u00a0people\u00a0debate cyber-related issues.<\/p>\n

The TV series is released as free resources for all to use as two YouTube videos.<\/p>\n