The UK Government has launched a new national campaign, You Won’t Know Until You Ask, to support parents and carers to have open, confident conversations with children and young people about harmful online content. The campaign is led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and provides clear, practical tools to help families navigate social media, gaming platforms and other online environments safely.

At the centre of the campaign is a new online safety resource hub, which brings together step by step guidance on safety settings and parental controls, conversation prompts to help adults begin discussions about children’s online experiences, and where to report concerns.

The campaign reflects findings from recent media literacy research showing that, while many parents feel confident using online platforms, fewer understand the content their children are exposed to, and regular conversations about online experiences remain limited.

Parents and carers are encouraged to explore online spaces alongside children and use open questions, such as who shared a post and why, to support ongoing discussions about what children may encounter online and how to respond safely.