'Shift Ctrl' is the new NSPCC film from House of Oddities, demanding a safer online world for children

It seems absurd that it took this long to realise that the internet isn't always a positive place for children. Technology moves fast, and we all know governments can't keep up with the pace of change – a worrying dilemma, particularly in this new age of AI when everything is speeding up once more.

Whilst the UK government concludes its own consultation on online safety for youngsters, the NSPCC has launched a campaign calling for greater action to protect them. Made by award-winning creative agency House of Oddities, 'Shift Ctrl' is a 60-second film that demonstrates how online harms can severely disrupt children's everyday lives. That's not an easy brief when you have to articulate grim realities, but it does it so well.

Produced by Partizan and directed by Ethan & Tom, the film was shot on 35mm by BAFTA-nominated Nick Morris and features a nostalgic soundtrack that we think was inspired by Stranger Things. It instantly creates the feeling that something is seriously wrong. Opening with a track by PinkPantheress, the mood then shifts to an original analogue-led score by Johnny Jewel of Chromatics, adding texture and emotional depth.

The film follows three children facing disturbing online threats. We begin with a teenager at a party being persuaded by a stranger online to meet her. She leaves the party, frightened, and walks into a dark, moody street, only to find the trees have transformed into a terrifying creature trying to lure her away.

Then a young lad playing video games is seemingly chatting with someone his own age online, only to find it's a manipulative predator asking for photographs. Finally, we see a young schoolgirl grappling with her self-image, and a mirror transforms into three scary characters who tell her she's not good enough.

"Ordinary settings are disrupted by dark, digital forces symbolising abuse, coercion and control, visualised through glowing keyboard commands that strip children of agency," says Kevin Yeates from NSPCC.

The message hits hard. But then, as in every great story, the mood shifts to something bright and uplifting, showing us that it doesn't have to be this way. Even so, we've a long way to go before this serious problem is properly addressed, as Kevin explains: "Resolution only comes when an adult or peer steps in, reinforcing the message that the current system is failing children."

The campaign arrives at a moment when concern around children's online safety is growing, and political attention is sharpening. New data from Childline reveals that between April 2025 and March 2026, it delivered 2,444 counselling sessions about online child sexual abuse and exploitation, marking a 36% annual increase. Overall, online harms have risen by 30% year-on-year.

"Online harms can chip away at a child's sense of safety, confidence and control," says Sachini Imbuldeniya from House of Oddities. "It's a big challenge to represent these concepts on screen. We decided to lean into genres of sci-fi and fantasy, striking a balance between surreal digital spaces and the very real impact they can have in 'our' world."

Of course, the campaign is aimed at parents, highlighting the dangers of the internet once more. But, as Sachini explains, it allowed them to create something that would cross generations and resonate with teenagers as well, "with a contemporary visual style that could cut through the noise of an ad break and pull viewers in". She adds: "Ethan & Tom brought an extraordinary level of craft and care to the project, creating something that feels both unsettling and deeply human at the same time."

The campaign, 'Shift Ctrl', runs from now until the end of May and will appear in cinemas, with a 30-second version running across on-demand TV services including Sky, All 4 and ITVX, and social media platforms Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.