Internet Matters has published findings from its report The Online Safety Act: Are children safer online?, which explores how families are experiencing the early implementation of the UK’s new online safety rules.
Using data from surveys and focus groups with parents and children, the research provides an early view of how these changes are shaping families’ lives online. While families report some positive developments, the report finds that significant risks and challenges remain, and that responsibility for online safety continues to fall heavily on families.
Key findings:
- Safety features are increasingly visible: Seven in ten children (68%) and parents (67%) report seeing more safety features, including limits on risky functions such as chat and greater control through reporting tools.
- Age checks are common, but often bypassed: Over half of children (53%) report having to verify their age online, yet a third (32%) say they have bypassed age checks, with 26% of parents admitting they have allowed this.
- Children continue to encounter harm online: Almost half of children (49%) reported encountering harm shortly after children’s safety measures came into force, including exposure to violent and hateful content.
- Families want more action: Only 22% of parents and 31% of children believe the Government is doing enough to protect children online.
- Mixed views on a social media ban: Parents and children raised concerns that a ban could be ineffective or negatively impact wellbeing. Instead, they favour stronger enforcement of the Online Safety Act, more robust age checks, and stricter limits on harmful platform features.
Drawing on these findings, the report highlights what further action families believe is needed from government and industry to help ensure children can thrive safely in a rapidly evolving digital world.
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