Internet Matters Pulse
Insights into children’s digital lives
Bi-annual research with 2,000 parents and 1,000 children in the UK exploring children’s online lives, parents’ concerns, and approaches to online safety.
Key findings
Explore the key findings from our May 2026 Pulse survey – click to find out more and use the arrows on the graphs below to dive deeper.
Children’s time online
Children spend over a day a week online at a total of 25 hours on average.
Online harm
Nearly three-quarters of children tell us they have experienced harm online (72%).
Addressing online harms
Parents want more action to address concerns about children’s online lives.
The role of parents
Parents are children's number one source of information about online safety.
Media literacy
Nearly two-thirds of parents (66%) say their child's online safety education in school is good.
Latest article
Explore more of these insights in our latest article about the Government's announcement to ban social media for under-16s.
What's on this page
How children spend their time online
Children spend over a day online each week, at 25 hours on average. Across all ages, we see children are regularly engaging in a range of activities online, from messaging on social media platforms to using AI chatbots.
Children’s experiences of harm online
Almost three-quarters (72%) of children tell us they have experienced at least one online harm.
Addressing online harms
Parents want more action to address growing concerns about their children’s online lives.
The role of parents
Parents are children’s number one source of information about online safety and where they turn to when things go wrong online. From parental controls to open conversations, parents use a range of knowledge and tools to keep their children safe online.
Schools and media literacy
Two-thirds of parents (66%) say their child’s online safety education in school is good.
Methodology
- Internet Matters Pulse is a bi-annual nationally representative survey of 1,000 UK children (aged 9-17) and 2,000 UK parents of children aged 3-17.
- The most recent survey was conducted from April – May 2026 by Opinium Research.
- It asks children and parents a range of questions about children’s digital habits, online experiences, parents’ concerns, and approaches to online safety.
- For further information and insight, please contact Katie Freeman-Tayler, Policy & Research Director.
How we use these insights
Research
Growing up online: creating safer, age-appropriate digital experiences for children
We respond to the government's consultation, 'Growing up in the online world'.
Research
Informed or Overwhelmed? Understanding the impact of online news on children’s wellbeing
This report explores how children navigate the online news landscape and highlights the importance of media literacy for navigating these spaces.
Research
Me, myself and AI chatbot research
Explore findings around children's use of AI chatbots and the impacts it could have on their digital wellbeing.
Research
Understanding and improving how children report online harm
Explore how children engage with reporting tools on the platforms they use.
Research
Age assurance and online safety: What parents and children have to say
Ahead of the publication of Ofcom’s Children’s Safety Codes, our recent tracker survey asks children and parents what they think about age assurance.
