Growing up in the online world: a national consultation

On 28 May 2026, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology referenced figures from this consultation in a media interview. In the interests of transparency we have published a preliminary analysis of the consultation responses to one of the consultation questions and a summary of the total number of consultation responses received.

Technology is part of most children’s lives from an early age. It can help children learn, build friendships and develop creativity. But it also brings risks, and many parents, teachers and young people have told us the current situation is not working well enough. 

Social media use among children and adolescents is almost universal.  The proportion of children with social media profiles has increased significantly in the last 5 years. We must ensure children can engage with the online world safely, and that parents and carers feel confident to support and empower their children online. 

This consultation is the next step in the government’s work to ensure children’s experiences online are safe and enriching. We want to understand how technology impacts children’s wellbeing, and what more we can do to help families strike the right balance.

Do you remember what your childhood looked like?

The Online Safety Act 2023 established one of the strongest systems in the world for protecting children from illegal and harmful content online. This consultation built on that foundation to consider the broader impact of technology on children’s everyday lives.

Given the importance of the internet and digital services in today’s society, we need to consider whether additional measures could build on our existing approach and ensure the UK remains the safest place for children to be online.

The consultation considered how children use digital technology as well as measures including: