Kids Online
An evidence-grounded look at children and screens — written separately for parents and for teens, because they need different things from the same topic.
For Parents
What children actually do online by age, what the research says (and where it is uncertain), and how parental controls really work.
What Kids Actually Do Online — By Age Band
Most conversations about children and technology start from assumptions rather than evidence. This topic presents what large-scale research actually shows about how children of different ages use the internet — separating documented patterns from moral panic.
Age Limits and Platform Policies — What the Law Requires
Three major legal frameworks govern children's access to platforms and their data: the US COPPA (under 13), the UK Age-Appropriate Design Code (all under 18), and the EU DSA with additional national protections. This topic explains what each framework requires and the gap between policy and enforcement.
Screen Time — The Research Is Messier Than You Think
'Screen time' is a crude measure that bundles together Zoom calls with grandparents, educational videos, passive scrolling, and violent games. The research on its effects is far more nuanced — and contested — than media coverage suggests.
Parental Controls That Work (and Those That Only Reassure)
Parental control tools range from highly effective for specific purposes to largely theatrical. This topic explains how each category works technically, what it can and cannot block, and where its limits lie.
Cyberbullying — Recognising Signs Without Becoming Paranoid
Cyberbullying is real and its effects are documented. It is also not happening to every child who seems upset after using their phone. This topic presents the evidence on prevalence, impact, and warning signs — helping parents distinguish concern from surveillance.
Which Apps Are Actually Problematic — An Evidence-Based Assessment
Not all apps carry the same risks for children. This topic presents an evidence-based, platform-by-platform assessment — neither alarming parents about everything nor dismissing legitimate concerns.
For Teens and Young Adults
Written peer-to-peer: attention engineering, digital footprint, social media and wellbeing, and what support exists when things go wrong online.
Your Digital Footprint Now, in Ten Years
What you post online today can affect university admissions, job applications, insurance decisions, and relationships years from now. This topic explains how digital footprints are actually used — with documented examples — not to scare but to inform.
When Social Media Makes You Feel Worse, You're Not Broken
Research on social media and wellbeing is genuinely contested. This topic presents what the evidence actually shows — including where scientists disagree — without moralising about 'healthy' use or dismissing real effects.
Intimate Image Abuse and Sextortion — How It Works and What Support Exists
Non-consensual sharing of intimate images and sextortion are increasingly common online harms, particularly for young people. This topic explains the mechanisms, the legal frameworks across jurisdictions, and what support organisations do — without prescribing actions for the reader's specific situation.
Online Threats and Harassment — How the Law Treats This and What Support Exists
Online harassment and threats are treated differently in UK, EU, and US law. This topic explains the legal frameworks, what constitutes a criminal offence in different jurisdictions, and what support and reporting mechanisms exist — without advising the reader on their specific situation.
How Apps Are Built to Keep You Scrolling
Social media platforms use specific psychological mechanisms — designed by engineers and refined through A/B testing — to maximise time on app. This topic names those mechanisms directly, written peer-to-peer for teens who want to understand what's being done to their attention.