This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council on behalf of Internet Matters for the attention of all schools.
Internet Matters has published its annual ‘Digital wellbeing index’ report for children in the UK. The report evaluates and tracks the impact of digital technology on children’s physical, social, emotional, and developmental wellbeing. Results are based on a survey of 1,270 children aged 9- to 16-years-old, and their parents. Key findings include: time spent online continues to rise, with children spending on average 23 hours a week online; children are finding it hard to disconnect and regulate their time online; children are increasingly turning down real-world social opportunities to stay online; and positive and negative online experiences are rising in parallel.
Read the report: Children's wellbeing in a digital world: year five index report 2026