The advance of technology and the changes it has driven in society have been revolutionary. In particular, the digital world has transformed childhood. So swift has been the pace of change that future historians will likely view this period as an overarching era of change, much the same as we now view periods such as the Enlightenment or the Industrial Revolution. Indeed, ecologists and economists have identified the start of this millennium as a new human epoch – the Anthropocene – because of the fundamental shift in society brought by our mass access to commerce, automation and data. And so, internet access is both the biggest challenge but also the biggest opportunity for young people growing up in the UK today.
The children and young people Barnardo’s work with are amongst the most vulnerable in society and the internet too often serves to accentuate, rather than lessen, the risks children face. They tell us how social media in particular is initiating or exacerbating peer pressure, sexual pressure, addictive behaviours, ease of access to sexual content and social isolation. Barnardo’s and many other organisations have a responsibility to ensure that our children are equipped and supported with the day-to-day skills and knowledge they need to navigate this landscape effectively. This report outlines the challenges of supporting children and young people in an increasingly digital world alongside our recommendations for how to put children at the centre of technological development.