The Big Ambition for Online Safety: Reflections from my AmbassadorsÂ
As Children’s Commissioner, children tell me about how their experiences of the online world impact their lives. They want to take advantage of all the positive opportunities that the online world offers them, with the chance to socialise, learn and play in online spaces. The Big Ambition results revealed children do not see a difference […]
The Big Ambition for Online Safety Â
As Children’s Commissioner, I have spoken to thousands of children about the impact of the online world on their lives and wellbeing, and how much time they spend online. It was clear in The Big Ambition that children do not see a difference between their online world and offline world. Children want to engage with […]
Children’s views on online safety in ‘The Big Ask’
Last year, the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, launched ‘The Big Ask’, the largest ever survey of children which received over 550,000 responses from children. The survey prompted a national conversation with children across England, asking children about which aspects of their life they were happy with, what they thought was important […]
The Children’s Commissioner’s priorities for online safety
This week the Children’s Office is recognising the importance of online safety for children and young people. In the first of a series of blogs, the Children’s Commissioner discusses why online safety is a major concern for her, and her work in her time as Commissioner to guarantee a safer digital world for all young […]
The Children’s Commissioner gives evidence to the Online Safety Bill Committee
This morning I am appearing before the Public Committee on the Online Safety Bill. Ahead of my evidence to the Committee, I want to outline my concerns and aspirations for this pioneering piece of legislation. Today’s children are born into a digital world which they did not create, and over which they have little control. […]
Briefing to MPs on the Online Safety Bill
Briefing to MPs on the Online Safety Bill Next week is the Second Reading of the Online Safety Bill. As Children’s Commissioner, I have convened the 15 leading children’s rights organisations and internet safety experts in the UK to tell you about our thoughts on it. I am writing to all MPs with views on […]
Online Safety Commission from Government: Our recommendations for making the online world safer for children
This report shares our findings and recommendations for making the online world safer for children, and bringing children’s voices to the heart of the debate around the Online Safety Bill.
The Big Ambition for Online roundtable: reflections from youth AmbassadorsÂ
As part of The Big Ambition, I co-hosted the latest roundtable with some of my recently appointed Ambassadors focusing on online safety. The roundtable brought together representatives from Google, Meta, TikTok, Ukie – the UK video games trade body – and X to discuss the theme: “What more could platforms do to keep children safe […]
Children’s Commissioner’s response to Ofcom’s ‘Protecting people from illegal harms online’
This is a written response by the Children’s Commissioner to Ofcom’s consultation, Protecting people from illegal harms online, on the draft codes of practice relating to illegal content under the Online Safety Act 2023. The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has a statutory independent role to protect and promote the rights of children in […]
Online Communities: Annual roundup
2022 has been a monumental year for children’s safety online. The Government’s landmark Online Safety Bill was re-drafted following Committee scrutiny; the Bill has recently returned to the House to complete its final stages in the Commons and the Lords. This year, the Children’s Commissioner has tirelessly championed young voices on online safety to Ministers, […]
Mental Health and the Online World: what do children say?
In The Big Ask, The majority of children aged 9—17 (80%) were happy or okay with their mental health. But 20% were unhappy, making it the top issue for children today. Children also spoke about how social media interacted with their mental health. This is why two of my biggest priorities as Children’s Commissioner are […]
Digital communities: The Children’s Commissioner’s survey of children and parents on the online world
Children spend half their free time online. The digital world is where they access news and information, where they play games, develop a sense of their own identity, and where they keep in touch with friends and family. As one young person told me: “Social media has helped me more than my own family. I […]
Archived Content
Children’s Commissioner responds to the ICO’s consultation on online safety
Anne Longfield, responding to the ICO’s consultation on online safety, said: “The internet is an extraordinary thing but it was not built with children in mind. I want children to have the information, resilience and power they need to engage positively in the online world, rather than falling foul to companies and platforms which do […]
Access denied: How end-to-end encryption threatens children’s safety online
This briefing aims to understand which apps and sites children and teens are using to communicate, and to find out more about what they are sharing on these platforms. In March 2020 we polled 2,003 children aged 8-17 on their use of messaging platforms, in an effort to understand the risks that these services may […]
Briefing on the full Government response to the Online Harms White Paper
Three years since the publication of a Green Paper, and over 18 months since a White Paper, the Government has announced its final plans for a new Online Safety Bill. The Children’s Commissioner welcomes this groundbreaking legislation, which is a significant step forward in combatting online harms. There is now much work to be done […]
Response to Government’s Online Harms announcement
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, responding to the Government’s Online Harms proposals, said: “I am pleased that the Government has finally confirmed that it plans to introduce a new duty of care. The signs are that this regulation will have teeth, including strong sanctions for companies found to be in breach of their duties, […]
Digital safety and wellbeing kit
How you and your children can stay safe online and ensure a good screen time balance.
Children’s experiences of online harm and what they want to do about it
In April this year the Government set out their plans for a world-first: a system of regulations that they argue will make the UK ‘the safest place in the world to be online’. The Online Harms White Paper, produced in collaboration between the Home Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), maps out […]
A response to our letter to DExEU on the consequences for children’s safety of a No Deal Brexit
The following is a response to our letter to the Department for Exiting the European Union, written with the other UK Children’s Commissioners, on the consequences for children’s safety of a No Deal Brexit. It highlights how a No Deal scenario would disrupt some of the mechanisms in place to protect children. *** Dear Anne, […]
Online platforms must do more to tackle social media content which is harmful to children
The following letter, written by Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has been sent to several of the leading social media organisations, including Facebook, which includes Instagram and WhatsApp, Snapchat, Youtube and Pinterest. The tragic suicide of Molly Russell and her father’s appalled response to the material she was viewing on social media before her […]
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, responds to Government’s Green Paper on internet safety
I welcome many of the measures proposed in the Green Paper and I am pleased that some of the proposals we have made have been taken up by the Government.
Growing Up Digital one year on
The internet and social media are a permanent part of modern childhood and for most children they offer huge opportunities to learn and connect. Today’s ‘Safer Internet Day’ brings schools, parents, teachers and industry together to make sure children have the power, information and resilience they need to make safe and informed choices online. The […]