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Expert Panel for Growing up in an Online World

An independent panel of academics advising the government on evidence and research about children's online wellbeing.

As part of the Growing up in the online world consultation, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has set up an expert panel of academics to help understand the evidence on children’s digital wellbeing.

The panel’s role includes: 

  • advising on the state of the current and evolving evidence base as it relates to:
    • the impacts of digital technology, including social media, gaming, and AI chatbots
    • the specific proposals under consideration in the consultation
  • helping DSIT understand how evidence can inform future policy, gaps in the data and our priority research needs for 2026 to 2027 and beyond

The panel brings together experts from a range of academic disciplines, giving them a broad perspective on the quality and credibility of the evidence. With diverse perspectives drawn from across the digital safety landscape, the expert panel will provide support and challenge to help ministers make well-informed, evidence-based decisions.

The panel’s initial term runs until August 2026, in line with the consultation period.

Membership

The panel members are:

  • Professor Russell Viner CBE - Chair
  • Professor Amy Orben
  • Professor Sonia Livingstone OBE
  • Professor Bernadka Dubicka
  • Professor Netta Weinstein
  • Professor Rosie Flewitt
  • Professor Peter Etchells
  • Dr Akshi Kumar
  • Professor Deborah Fry

The panel may also consult other academics to make sure a broad range of evidence is considered.

See the panel members declarations of interests.

Terms of reference

The terms of reference set out the panel’s purpose and how it operates.

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