Better Internet for Kids

The report examines how children’s developmental stages shape their online behaviour, vulnerabilities, and safety needs. Drawing on Ofcom’s multi‑method research with children aged 8–17, it identifies clear developmental patterns in digital engagement, risk perception, and susceptibility to harm. 

Younger children (8–11) primarily use the internet for entertainment and gaming, with limited critical understanding of online risks. Early adolescents (11–13) expand their online networks and begin encountering uncomfortable or inappropriate behaviours, including unwanted contact, sexualised comments, and exposure to harmful content. Older adolescents (14–17) demonstrate more complex social interactions, higher autonomy, and increased exposure to illegal or high‑risk content (e.g., drugs, weapons, terrorism), while also showing greater capacity for self‑regulation and help‑seeking. 

The report concludes that online safety interventions must be developmentally tailored, combining design‑based protections, parental mediation, and platform accountability to address age‑specific risks.