Protecting children

OS-Protecting Children-bedroom

Boosting children's safety online: Help Centres

Published: 8 May 2024

Last updated: 30 July 2024

This online trial tested different ways to encourage children to access age-appropriate user support materials (or help centre) during the sign-up process of a mock social media platform.

Children's attitudes to reporting content online

Published: 8 May 2024

This research was designed to better understand the experiences of and attitudes towards reporting among children who use social media and/or video-sharing platforms.

Child development stages review

Published: 8 May 2024

This review builds Ofcom's understanding of children and young people's development stages, and how this interacts with their online decision making and behaviour.

Children's online 'user ages'

Published: 11 October 2022

Last updated: 8 May 2024

Research to understand to what extend children are bypassing age assurance measures.

Understanding pathways to online violent content among children

Published: 15 March 2024

This research explores the pathways through which children encounter violent content online, the impact this can have, and perceptions and use of safety measures.

Experiences of children encountering online content promoting eating disorders, self-harm and suicide

Published: 15 March 2024

This research explores the pathways through which children encounter content related to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, the impact this can have, and perceptions of safety measures.

Key attributes and experiences of cyberbullying among children in the UK

Published: 15 March 2024

This research explores the pathways through which children are exposed to cyberbullying, the impact this can have, and perceptions of what works to address cyberbullying.

How video-sharing platforms protect children from encountering harmful videos

Published: 14 December 2023

How TikTok, Twitch and Snap try to prevent children from watching potentially harmful videos.

Functionality of online pornography services

Published: 6 November 2023

Last updated: 10 November 2023

The British Board of Film Classification has carried out research into online pornography services, focusing on the way pornographic content is published and displayed and how easily it can be accessed.

Barriers to proving age on adult sites

Published: 6 November 2023

Last updated: 10 November 2023

How UK internet users aged 16+ experience accessing pornographic content online and passing any age checks if encountered.

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