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Cyber Collective advanced digital safety in 2024 through community-driven programs, global advocacy, and culturally relevant education.
2024 was a transformational year for Cyber Collective. We renewed our purpose, strengthened the organization, and created foundational programming. We activated a global collective of advocates to equip everyone—especially marginalized communities—with the tools and knowledge needed to be resilient, secure, and confident in their digital lives.
Thank you to each and every member of our community who championed our mission, this year and beyond. This impact report covers what we collectively accomplished—and what we’ll accomplish next. Read about the highs, lows, stats, and stories that reflect our growth, and join us in furthering our impact in 2025.
The problems we face in our digital landscape are profound. Information is not enough to equip billions of tech users with the digital safety skills they need to navigate cyber threats and their detrimental impact on mental health.
Why?
Because in our most vulnerable human moments, millions of search results won’t support you the way your family, friends, and communities do.
To put this in perspective, look at New York City.
New York is the second most at-risk state for cyberattacks. It’s seen a 14.4% increase over four years in attacks. Financial losses from these cyberattacks have increased by 75.7%, totaling $440,673,485.
If this is happening in New York City, it’s happening everywhere. Frank Sinatra said it best, “If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere." To make it in NYC, you need grit. You need resilience. Most importantly, you need street smarts.
Information is not enough to help people stay safe online. We need to build internet street smarts—an instinct to protect ourselves and each other from threats, just like we would in real life.
As we worked with our intergenerational and multicultural group of leaders working together to protect our historically marginalized and at-risk communities, we affirmed that the solution lies in solidarity. In 2024, we organized and equipped our global Cyber Collective with the resources they need to not only teach digital safety skills, but inspire a movement: Internet Street Smarts.
Since the start of Cyber Collective in 2019, we’ve been curating easy-to-understand, accessible resources on social media and our website. This year, our goal was to expand our resources. To cover key topics such as election security, cyber threats on girls and women on top of general how-to resources and requested topics from our social media audience.
Our first intern cohort, students from NYU, Yale, St. John’s University, global volunteer contributors, and our team wrote dozens of articles on digital safety in simple language. Now, we have doubled our resources and expanded to new categories including AI, elections and democracy, women, and more.
To meet people where they are and promote these resources, we experimented with short-form and long-form content across social media platforms. We launched a TikTok, went viral, and grew our social media community. We were able to share the what-is and how-tos of digital safety AND spark discourse and gather critical feedback. Having an open dialogue with our audience around AI ethics, digital safety for activists, and the impact of cyber threats on mental health informed our resources and programming.
In 2024, we deepened our impact through strategic partnerships. We collaborated with advocacy organizations, research organizations, foundations, city government officials and more. We facilitated online and IRL [in real life] experiences across industries and generations. By bridging communities, sharing information within cultural context, and collaborating on resources, we furthered our shared missions.
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We launched the Global Cyber Collective Advocates Program, a key initiative designed to empower individuals worldwide to promote digital safety in their communities.
By building a global network of passionate advocates, we’re amplifying cybersecurity awareness through grassroots efforts, both online and in person. This inaugural cohort exemplifies the power of collective action, with advocates leading grassroots efforts, hosting local workshops, and contributing to Cyber Collective’s broader mission.As we expand this program in 2025, we aim to strengthen our advocates’ toolkit, conduct skills trainings, deepen their connections to one another, and amplify their voices globally. By growing this network, we are building a future where cybersecurity is accessible, actionable, and rooted in the needs of diverse communities worldwide.
Cyber Collective Advocates is our volunteer program designed to engage passionate individuals in our mission to promote online safety, privacy, and responsible digital practices. Volunteers will have the opportunity to contribute to various activities, from organizing impactful events to creating valuable resources on cybersecurity, privacy, and emerging digital technology trends. — Rebecca Richard
Cyber Collective introduced Internet Street Smarts, a program designed to transform how we navigate the digital world. Inspired by the vigilance we apply in real-life settings, this initiative aims to build “digital instincts” that empower individuals and communities to stay safe online. Co-created with advocates and informed by lived experiences, Internet Street Smarts integrates practical cybersecurity knowledge with a lens of social justice, making it accessible and impactful for diverse audiences.
More than a course, Internet Street Smarts is a movement—one rooted in community, solidarity, and collective action. From learning to spot phishing scams to understanding the emotional toll of cybercrime, participants are encouraged to share their knowledge with loved ones, amplifying its impact. This program redefines digital safety as a shared responsibility, ensuring that no one faces the challenges of the online world alone.
Cyber Collective turned five years old this year. This is a big milestone for the organization, as 50% of businesses shut down within the first five years. In 2024 we learned:
When you’re deep in strategy documents, iterating on messaging for what felt like the millionth time, things got taxxng. But we are called Cyber Collective for a reason. Inspired by mutual aid, we built a foundation to serve the leaders who are experts in the needs of their own communities.
Every aspect of our work is centered in co-creation. If we’re going to help billions of tech users, we can’t do it alone. — Callie Rojewski, Chief Strategy Officer
“My inbox is full of stories of folks that have been victims of cybercrime. So many of you either have been hacked or know someone who has. Seldom does anyone talk about the impact getting hacked has on our mental health. It’s time we do.” — Tazin Khan, Founder and CEO
The tech world isn’t just lacking racial diversity—it’s missing the rich spectrum of culture and class diversity that makes communities resilient and innovative. Without addressing these gaps, we can’t shift the culture. That’s why we invented the Cyber Collective Effect, built on a diverse set of values, skills, and best practices that aren’t often connected, let alone applied to tech problems.
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“What’s most important in the Cyber Collective effect is emotional intelligence and cultural competency. In order to effectively help people gain more agency and autonomy in digital experiences, we must understand tactics and strategies to calm people, develop mutual trust and connection, establish rapport and create a safe environment for people to change behavior.” — Tazin Khan, Founder and CEO
"By 2025, cybercrime is projected to impact 8.5 billion individuals, with costs soaring to $12.2 trillion. That’s 116 victims every hour — a staggering pace that underscores the urgency of digital safety. "— Hira Ehtesham
It is critical that tech users around the world understand how to protect themselves and their communities online. In 2025, our focus will be on internet street smarts.
Partner with us to bring the course to your community by emailing hello@cybercollective.org
If we want to make meaningful progress, we have to break free from these echo chambers. Representation matters. Not just for appearances, but because the lived experiences of diverse communities bring essential insights that can inform better, more inclusive solutions. The tech world isn’t just lacking racial diversity—it’s missing the rich spectrum of culture and class diversity that makes communities resilient and innovative. Without addressing these gaps, we can’t shift the culture.
At Cyber Collective, we are dedicated to bridging this gap. We’re building a movement grounded in inclusivity, transparency, and accountability. We’re actively creating spaces for those who have historically been excluded from these conversations, connecting with micro-communities of color who are eager to shape the future of tech. Their voices don’t just deserve to be at the table—they are critical to driving real change.
This work isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. And it requires all of us.
Join us at Cyber Collective—attend our events, engage with our resources, or simply subscribe to our newsletter. Together, we can build a movement that reflects the full spectrum of humanity and redefines what it means to create responsible, equitable tech. Because a future shaped by a diversity of voices is a future we can all believe in.
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