7 April 2026
The online world is evolving at remarkable speed, shaping how young people connect, learn, play and participate in society. As technology changes, so too do the opportunities and challenges it presents — and it’s essential that young people’s experiences inform the decisions that affect them.
To support this, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has launched a UK wide consultation on growing up in the online world. The consultation aims to understand how children, young people and families can be better supported as digital platforms, gaming environments and emerging technologies become an even greater part of everyday life.
To ensure young people’s insights are at the heart of this work, DSIT has commissioned a consortium led by Savanta, supported by the #iWill Movement (powered by Volunteering Matters and UK Youth). Together, we are creating opportunities for young people, parents, carers and practitioners to share their experiences through surveys, creative engagement and in–person youth hack events.
Savanta, as the Research Lead, designed the consultation surveys with DSIT and is overseeing the full research process. Alongside this, the #iWill Movement is supporting meaningful youth engagement, creating opportunities for young people to contribute confidently and safely through co‑design sessions and regional hack events taking place in May 2026.
Eight Youth Collaborators from the #iWill Movement sit at the heart of this work. They will help shape elements of the consultation by sharing insights during co‑design workshops, supporting the development and delivery of the hack events, and contributing to the interpretation of findings that will inform recommendations to government. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to meaningful, youth‑centred participation in shaping policy.
The consultation comes at a time of growing national debate about how young people should be supported and protected online. Oscar Bingham, Assistant Director of Research & Impact at UK Youth, reflects on why this work – and young people’s involvement – matters:
“The online world that young people are growing up in is complex. It can offer young people opportunities to connect, learn and find belonging. But being online can also be incredibly harmful in a number of ways. There is a huge amount of debate happening from right across the political spectrum over how young people should be protected from online harms and this consultation is fundamental to shaping central government policy on this issue.
We’re proud that the #iWill Movement is playing a key role in this consultation and putting young people’s views and experiences at the centre of the policy decisions that would impact them and future generations. Young people -alongside parents, carers and practitioners- need to be heard and we’re listening; not only by consulting with young people, but by engaging and supporting a group of eight Youth Collaborators to co-lead important elements of this consultation with us.”
Henry Hughes DLY, Co-Chair of the #iWill Movement, said:
“This work is so important. By inviting eight incredible Youth Collaborators, we are creating space for a youth‑friendly approach to complex issues, making it more accessible for young people to have their say. I’m really looking forward to seeing and encouraging engagement in the consultation, to help ensure that a wide range of intersectional experiences are represented.”
Molly Taylor, Co-Chair or the #iWill Movement, agreed:
“Young people’s best interests must be central to all decisions affecting them. They have the right to be consulted, to shape how they access digital spaces, and to be protected, working with government to ensure safe, appropriate access. It is encouraging that the #iWill movement and our youth collaborators are being trusted to engage directly with young people and represent their views nationally.”
Over the coming months, we will be encouraging young people, families and practitioners to take part in DSIT’s national surveys and sharing updates from the Hack events across the UK. The findings from the consultation will be analysed by Savanta, Youth Collaborators and the wider consortium, before being published in a full report and a youth–friendly summary in June 2026.
This work represents an important opportunity for young people to influence how they are supported online, now and in the future. We are proud to play a role in ensuring their voices are heard.
