About Me
Kia ora, I'm Zareen Sheikh-Cope, documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Our Kids Online. I have more than eight years’ experience in online harm prevention, digital safety education, and youth wellbeing.
I co-produced the documentary Our Kids Online: Porn, Predators & How to Keep Them Safe, as well as the Informed & Empowered and Parenting 101 in an Online World programmes and resources, which have been delivered to thousands of educators, parents, whānau and caregivers across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Following the release of the documentary, I spent two years presenting alongside Rob Cope at school information evenings, speaking with parents, caregivers and whānau about the realities young people face online. During this time, I also spoke directly with students, helping to create practical, age-appropriate conversations around online safety and digital wellbeing.
With limited dates available each year, don’t miss the chance to have Zareen speak to your students. Contact us today!
I later joined the Digital Safety Group at the Department of Internal Affairs, where I worked for two and a half years in investigation support dealing with digital violent extremism and child sexual exploitation material. Following this work, I was awarded funding through the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Grant from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to develop resources focused on recognising and preventing online radicalisation and violent extremism.
In 2025, as part of my degree studies, I spent a year working one-to-one with intermediate-aged children on placement, further deepening my understanding of child development, emotional wellbeing, and the challenges young people face both online and offline.
Today, I focus on delivering engaging, practical and evidence-informed online safety talks for students from Year 6 and above, helping young people better understand online risks, healthy digital behaviours, and how to navigate the online, and offline, world safely and confidently.
Alongside this work, I continue further study in psychology and am developing the documentary What Are We Missing: The Developing Brain, which explores reported increases in developmental delay in toddlers and young children, alongside concerns around declining cognitive capabilities in teenagers outside the expected stages of brain development.