Growing up in the online world
Documents for the 'Growing up in the online world' consultation.
A national consultation
We ran a national consultation from March 2026 to May 2026 on further measures to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change. The government’s response was published in 2 stages: an initial progress statement in June 2026, followed by the full response in July 2026.
Parents' and children's views on social media: quantitative and qualitative report
Alongside the consultation, we conducted qualitative and quantitative research to understand the views of parents and children on these issues. The research looks at how parents, children and young people view social media — including its benefits and risks — and what they think about possible restrictions such as an under-16 ban, as well as views on AI chatbots, age assurance and media literacy.
We have also produced a youth-accessible summary of this research.
An explanation of the new rules
Guidance on the new rules to protect children online.