The online world is an integral part of children’s lives, giving them opportunities for learning, entertainment and social connection as well as access to resources and support such as Childline. However, some online content is unsuitable and harmful for young audiences.
This briefing offers a snapshot of young people’s experiences with harmful online content before the Online Safety Act 2023 came into force in March 2025.
It uses insight from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline child welfare contacts in 2024/25 and shares young people’s online experiences and the impacts, including:
- online bullying
- hate content
- depictions of violence
- misinformation
- addictive design in online platforms
- where AI has been used to make harmful online content.
This briefing complements and updates a previous briefing on legal but harmful online content, published in February 2022.
