The 'Growing up in the online world' national consultation is open until 26 May 2026. Led by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the consultation seeks views on how children and young people can be better supported and safeguarded in an increasingly digital world.
Services for Young People (SfYP) welcomes this consultation and recognises its importance to the young people we work with. We are committed to supporting and promoting engagement with the consultation across our youth work projects and wider service delivery.
Why SfYP is supporting this consultation
Digital spaces are now a fundamental part of young people’s everyday lives and development. The way young people communicate, learn, socialise, and express themselves is increasingly shaped by online platforms, technologies, and digital cultures. As a service that enables young people to have their voices heard, it is essential that we respond to this reality and ensure their views and experience influence the systems and policies that affect them.
Many national conversations about online safety are shaped by adult perspectives, regulation, or technology-led solutions. While these are important, they do not always reflect the lived experiences of young people themselves. By supporting this consultation, SfYP is helping to ensure that young people’s real experiences — both positive and challenging — are heard, understood, and valued in policy development.
Why this consultation matters
The online world plays a central role in the lives of the young people we work with. From social media and gaming to AI tools and online learning, these environments offer opportunities for creativity and connection, but also present risks that can impact wellbeing, safety, and development.
The consultation is exploring themes that align closely with the issues raised by young people and practitioners across our service, including:
- Young people’s experiences of social media, gaming, and online platforms
- Safeguards around addictive or risky features, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay
- Age limits and access to digital services and social media
- The growing role of AI and chatbots in young people’s lives
- Support for parents, carers, and professionals
- How young people can be better prepared for a digital future while staying safe
This is a significant opportunity to ensure national decisions reflect the realities faced by young people, particularly those whose voices are often underrepresented.
Find out more and have your say here:
Young people can join an SfYP youth work project in their local area:
and drop in to their local SfYP 11-5 Hub for one-to-one support:
