Children’s lives today are lived both offline and online. Digital spaces provide opportunities for connection, learning and support. But they also expose children to risks that could, and must, be prevented.
That is why the National Children’s Bureau, alongside our specialist membership group, the Anti-Bullying Alliance, and many partners across the children’s sector, has signed the Joint Statement of Principles for Furthering the Protection of Children Online.
The statement (which is available in full at the bottom of this webpage) sets out a shared framework for ensuring platforms are designed with children’s wellbeing in mind and for strengthening the role of government in making online environments safer.
The Statement has been coordinated by Lord Nash. The Anti-Bullying Alliance has also published a news item in response.
A shared approach across the sector
The principles represent an important moment of alignment across organisations working with children and young people. They move the conversation beyond polarised debates about bans and instead focus on a vital question:
How do we ensure digital services are safe for children to use?
The principles make clear that:
- safety should be a condition of platforms accessing children
- responsibility should sit with services rather than families
- protections must apply across social media, gaming and emerging AI tools
- children’s voices must shape future policy decisions.
This reflects what children and practitioners consistently tell us: safer systems matter more than simple restrictions.
What the principles propose
The Joint Statement outlines a set of measures designed to reduce preventable harm. These include:
- Services that cannot meet minimum safety standards should not be allowed to operate for children.
- Addictive and persuasive design features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay should be addressed.
- Stranger contact, livestreaming and risky AI features should be included within the scope of online safety measures.
- Gaming platforms and emerging technologies must be covered alongside social media.
- Platforms should remain responsible for children’s safety even where young people try to circumnavigate or workaround restrictions.
- Children’s voices should inform future safeguards.
- Stronger public messaging should help families understand online risks.
- Digital literacy should support children online as they grow older.
- Independent oversight should monitor how platforms respond to risks.
Together, these proposals create a stronger foundation for protecting children as technology evolves.
Why NCB supports this work
At NCB, we believe government must do everything possible to ensure children are safe wherever they grow, learn and connect.
Through the Anti-Bullying Alliance and our wider work across education, safeguarding and inclusion, we see the real impact that unsafe online environments can have on children’s wellbeing. These principles reflect the direction of travel we believe policy should take:
- safety by design
- accountability for platforms
- meaningful involvement of children themselves.
They also provide a strong starting point for the government’s consultation on online harms and future legislative development.
By signing this statement alongside partners across the sector, we are helping to demonstrate a shared commitment to practical, proportionate action that keeps children safe online while preserving the benefits that digital spaces can offer.
We will continue working with government and partners to ensure children’s needs remain at the centre of online safety policy.