Scottish Government launches surveys on children’s experiences of online life

The Scottish Government has launched two surveys as part of its efforts to create safer online spaces for children.

Answers to these “digital wellbeing” surveys will help shape action to be taken in devolved areas while the UK Government pushes through various changes it has responsibility for.

The first survey is for children and young people, seeking information on how they use apps and social media, while the second is for parents and carers about their own screen time and how they support their children in accessing the digital world.

Children and young people minister Siobhian Brown said while she would continue to engage with the UK Government on such matters, it was also important to consider what more could be done by the devolved administration.

She said: “Going online and using social media gives young people access to huge amounts of information, which can have positive benefits for their learning and connection to friends, family and the world. However, it can also have a harmful impact on their physical and mental health and wellbeing. We also know parents and carers are worried about how long young people spend online, what content they may be viewing and the addictive nature of some apps.

“We will continue to push the UK Government to go further – for example we want to see a social media levy applied to online platforms which can then be reinvested back into our young people.

“However, we are also focused on what we can do within our powers in Scotland to ensure children and young people are safe and supported in their online lives, as part of a public health approach to online safety. To that end, we are seeking the views of as many people as possible, particularly around what support and information they would find most helpful.”

One of Keir Starmer’s last acts as prime minister was to announce a ban on social media for under-16s.

He said the UK Government would “move at speed” to introduce the necessary legislation with the aim of the ban coming into effect “in the early part of next year”.

But multiple youth organisations have called for a rethink, urging Andy Burnham to ensure young people are given a role in shaping any legislation in this area.

There is concern that such a ban, as has been implemented in Australia, would push young people into riskier ways to access social media.

Meanwhile questions remain over the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act, which came into force in December 2024.

That legislation introduced an illegal harms code of practice and guidance, including 40 safety measures to protect children from online grooming and other harm.

But research from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology recently found that more than half of children continued to see or interact with content not meant for them.