The UK's Government Chief Scientific Adviser has underscored the urgent need to understand the multifaceted impact of digital technology on children's lives, emphasising the delicate balance between its benefits and inherent harms. This call for deeper insight comes amidst a landscape where young people are increasingly immersed in online worlds from a very early age.
Statistics from Ofcom paint a clear picture of this digital immersion. A striking 97 per cent of UK teenagers aged 13 to 15 possess a mobile phone. Perhaps more surprisingly, almost one-fifth of children between three and five years old also own a device. This widespread access translates into significant online engagement, with children aged 8 to 9 spending an average of two hours daily online, a figure that rises to four hours for 13 to 14-year-olds, excluding time spent gaming.
Children themselves report no distinct separation between their online and offline experiences, often using digital platforms to foster friendships and access supportive communities. More recently, some are even utilising AI companions for emotional regulation and wellbeing support. However, this connectivity is accompanied by considerable risks, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and misinformation. Concerns also exist about features like unlimited scrolling and personalised algorithms, which are designed to be addictive, impacting children who are still developing self-regulation skills.
Despite the pervasive nature of digital technology in children's lives, there remains a significant gap in robust, long-term data regarding its overall effects. The Chief Scientific Adviser highlights insufficient research into both the positive aspects and the potential harms. While evidence on the impact of screen time is limited, it is understood that healthy development requires screen use not to displace essential activities such as sleep, physical activity, or real-world social interactions. Furthermore, the rapid advancements in AI necessitate stronger evidence on how children are using these tools, their impact on learning, and their relationships, ensuring they do not hinder the development of crucial skills like critical thinking.
Recognising these evidence gaps, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched a consultation in March 2026 on the impacts of growing up online, covering social media, AI chatbots, and gaming. This initiative is intended to improve understanding and inform future government strategies for safeguarding children and young people. However, the Chief Scientific Adviser stresses that this consultation should be just one step in an ongoing, broader societal conversation, ensuring children's wellbeing remains central to decision-making as digital lives continue to evolve.
Addressing these challenges involves complex policy considerations, including evaluating the potential consequences of limiting online access versus encouraging healthy digital habits and physical activity. The Government Office for Science is also examining the future of childhood and adolescence more widely, encompassing not only online harms but also trends in health, education, inequality, and family structures, underscoring the interconnectedness of these issues in shaping young lives.