Transparency data

Terms of reference for the Growing Up in the Online World expert panel

Published 26 May 2026

Role of the panel

The Expert Panel for Growing Up in the Online World (the panel) is an independent group of external academic experts convened by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) to provide impartial, evidence-based advice supporting the development of government policy relating to children’s online experiences.

The panel will:

• Advise 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 Growing up in the online world consultation.
• Help DSIT understand how evidence can inform future policy options, by identifying evidence gaps to inform priority research needs for 2026 to 2027 and beyond.

The panel’s role is to provide independent assurance that all analysis and policy options relating to children’s online wellbeing have been understood within the wider context of the evolving evidence base, to help inform DSIT’s policy development.

By operating independently, the panel will strengthen government and stakeholder confidence that the resulting policy decisions are grounded in robust evidence, that they are practical and implementable, and they represent up‑to‑date insights into children’s digital experiences.

Responsibilities

The panel will:

• review and interpret emerging data, including its limitations, related to children’s online experiences, including areas such as online safety and design interventions

• scrutinise DSIT’s approach to presenting evidence from the consultation and resulting policy decisions

• help DSIT identify where evidence is missing and where challenges, risks or important dependencies may arise

• offer insight on likely responses or behaviours from stakeholders (children, parents, platforms, civil society) that may influence policy delivery

• provide recommendations that will inform advice to Ministers and contribute to DSIT’s wider policymaking

The panel will not:

• set government policy

• publish independent reports

• act as representatives of their employers or sectors

• engage with media on behalf of DSIT

Independence and integrity

Members must:

• serve in a personal capacity, not as representatives of their organisations.

• have, or agree to obtain, sufficient security clearance to view and handle protected government documents

• act with integrity and impartiality, publicly declaring any conflicts of interest at appointment and at each meeting, which DSIT will record, manage and publish on GOV.UK

• not share confidential information or panel discussions outside the panel unless authorised

DSIT will:

• publish the panel membership once it is agreed

Membership and expertise

The panel will bring together a diverse range of experts with backgrounds that may include:

• child development, psychology or education
• digital harms or online safety, particularly for young people
• social research or behavioural science, with a focus on qualitative methods
• technology, including platform design, data infrastructure or algorithmic systems
• ethics, safeguarding or related fields such as equality and human rights
• lived experience of the issues under consideration

Taken collectively, the panel will provide balanced coverage across analytical, technical, safeguarding, lived-experience and design-related expertise. The composition will be refreshed as needed, consistent with good‑practice advisory body indicators.

Chairing and secretariat

DSIT will appoint a Chair to steer meetings, ensure balanced contributions, maintain independence and uphold the panel’s purpose.

A DSIT secretariat will support the panel by:

• coordinating meetings, agendas and logistics
• preparing and circulating papers with adequate notice
• recording notes, advice logs and recommendations
• managing conflicts of interest and membership records
• ensuring advice is captured and shared internally

Ways of working

Meeting frequency

We expect to meet once per month, over Microsoft Teams. Additional ad‑hoc meetings may be convened around key milestones, such as final trial design sign‑off.

Smaller sub‑groups may be formed for rapid work.

Written Input

Members may be asked to provide written comments on documents between meetings.

Reimbursement and acknowledgement

DSIT will reimburse reasonable expenses incurred as part of participation in the panel. This may include travel and subsistence costs if an in‑person meeting is arranged, in line with DSIT’s standard expenses policy.

DSIT recognises the contribution of panel members and will formally acknowledge their input at the conclusion of the panel’s work. This may include written thanks, recognition within published materials (where appropriate), or other suitable forms of acknowledgement.

Outputs and documentation

The panel’s outputs may include:

• meeting summaries (for internal use)
• advice notes or recommendations to DSIT teams
• annotated materials, for example annotated review of policy suggestions

The secretariat will:

• maintain an advice log detailing issues raised, recommendations made, and DSIT’s response
• ensure transparency internally regarding the use of advice

Transparency and confidentiality

Outputs will be treated as OFFICIAL‑SENSITIVE unless otherwise agreed.

DSIT may publish high‑level summaries in consultation documents if appropriate.

Members must maintain confidentiality and adhere to data protection requirements.

The names of panel members, alongside their declarations of conflicts of interest, will be published as part of DSIT’s transparency obligations.

Relationship with DSIT policy teams

DSIT policy teams will engage constructively with the panel, providing information, evidence, modelling outputs and draft materials in a timely manner.

The panel may request additional information where needed to fulfil its role.

DSIT will ensure that panel advice is considered and respond, including where advice cannot be adopted.

Duration and review

The panel will operate for a period of 4 months, before review. This is expected to cover the conclusion of the children’s online wellbeing consultation phase and the government’s response, unless extended.

These terms of reference will be reviewed after 4 months or sooner if required.

Termination

DSIT may stand down the panel or individual members if:

• the panel’s purpose has been fulfilled

• a member is unable to meet participation expectations

• conflicts of interest cannot be managed

• the role requires reshaping due to ministerial or policy direction shifts