Online safety challenges in dementia and mild cognitive impairment: a scoping review

People with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are increasingly using the internet, but cognitive and functional changes may amplify online safety risks. This scoping review mapped academic evidence and publicly available guidance on online safety for people affected by dementia/MCI.

In April 2025, seven databases and Google Scholar were searched for academic studies. Publicly available guidance was identified via Google and targeted searches of relevant organisations. Academic studies were synthesized narratively, and public resources underwent content analysis.

Of 2,014 academic articles screened, 13 were included. Studies were organised into three themes: 1) 'Vulnerability to scams and misinformation', including cybercrime victimisation, malicious links, inadvertent sharing of personal details, and misleading content; 2) 'Online harms', including psychological distress from negative interactions and upsetting content; and 3) 'Safeguarding approaches', characterised by labour-intensive, carer-led monitoring and reactive strategies. The 14 publicly available resources focused primarily on email, social media, and scams, but offered limited guidance on managing distressing content, misinformation, online abuse, or decisions around sharing login information.

Evidence on online safety for people with dementia/MCI remains limited. Our review highlights the importance of co-designed online safety initiatives, effective moderation, improved technology design, and policy supporting safe digital engagement.