A government consultation revealed that the majority of young people desire enhanced online protections. The consultation explored measures such as setting a minimum age for social media access, restricting features that encourage excessive use, and improving parental support.
The consultation results highlight a strong public demand for greater online safety measures, particularly for young people. The government's commitment to acting on these findings indicates potential future regulatory changes impacting technology companies and how children interact with digital services.
A significant majority of young people are seeking enhanced online protections, as revealed by the results of a major government consultation. The initiative, titled 'Growing up in the online world,' aimed to understand the broader impact of technology on children's well-being and identify further measures to ensure online safety.
The consultation explored various proposals, including establishing a minimum age for social media access, restricting design features that promote excessive use like infinite scrolling and autoplay, and potentially raising the digital age of consent. It also considered the role of age verification technologies and whether guidance on mobile phone use in schools should be made statutory.
The government emphasized that the consultation built upon the foundation of the Online Safety Act 2023, which established a robust system for protecting children from illegal and harmful online content. The goal is to make the UK the safest place for children to engage with the digital world.
Responses were welcomed from a wide range of stakeholders, including children and young people themselves, parents, carers, civil society organizations, and industry representatives. Dedicated surveys were available for different groups to ensure diverse perspectives were captured. The consultation officially closed on May 26, 2026.