Online environments can open up new worlds for children and young people to discover, to create connections, to learn and to find support and reassurance.
At the same time, they also expose children and young people to significant risks, including sexual exploitation, bullying and exposure to hateful and violent content.
The most severe online harms have contributed to profound psychological distress, and in some cases, child fatalities.
The government has responded to these concerns by launching “Growing up in the online world: a national consultation”.
Much of the recent policy debate has focused on two distinct approaches: introducing stricter age limits or bans on children’s access to social media; and prioritising full enforcement of the Online Safety Act alongside potential additional legislative and regulatory measures.
Contributing to the national consultation, the National Children’s Bureau has outlined a series of practical recommendations and calls to action, drawing on evidence, professional expertise and the lived experiences of children and young people.
Our recommendations
- Embed a child rights–based approach
Ground all online safety policy in UNCRC General Comment No. 25, ensuring children’s rights guide regulation. - Prioritise safety by design by adopting the Safety by Design Code of Practice developed by civil society partners
Require digital services to proactively prevent harm through design, making safety a precondition for operating services accessed by children. - Strengthen and expand regulation across technologies
Apply robust safeguards to social media, gaming, and emerging AI tools with stronger accountability for digital service providers. - Ensure strong governance, accountability, and participation
Introduce independent oversight, remove commercial incentives for harmful digital design, and embed children’s voices in policymaking. - Mandate child-friendly principles
Make online experiences suitable for different ages by mandating clear, child-friendly principles, including reliable and privacy-preserving age verification, graduated experiences, default safety and privacy, and a holistic risk assessment.