Growing Up Gaming – What New Ofcom Research Tells Us

Ofcom has published new research examining children’s gaming habits, who they play with online and the concerns parents have about their children’s gaming experiences.

The Growing Up Gaming report brings together findings from several Ofcom studies and highlights just how significant gaming has become in children’s lives.

Some interesting findings include:

• 88% of children aged 3–17 play games on a device.
• 55% of children who game online play with people they have only met online at least sometimes.
• 20% play with people they have only met online most or all of the time.
• Gaming is particularly popular among children aged 10–12, with 96% playing games.
• Children with conditions affecting their daily lives were more likely to report some negative experiences while gaming.

The research also recognises the many benefits of gaming, including friendships, creativity, entertainment and social connection.

These findings are a good reminder that gaming is increasingly a social experience. Understanding who children interact with, how games encourage communication and what happens during those interactions is an important part of online safety education.

Link:
Ofcom – Growing Up Gaming Research Summary

The Good Childhood Report 2026 – Why Belonging Matters

The Children’s Society has published its latest Good Childhood Report, examining children’s wellbeing and what young people say about their lives.

This year’s report places particular emphasis on belonging, trusted relationships and the importance of young people feeling heard and supported.

Some of the key findings include:

• 10% of children and young people taking part in the 2026 household survey reported low wellbeing.
• School was the aspect of life children were most commonly unhappy with, some of those reasons being:
  • pressure to fit in.
  • bullying and exclusion.
  • lack of belonging.
  • not feeling listened to.
  • difficulty accessing support.
• Children reporting lower wellbeing were also more likely to experience a reduced sense of belonging.
• Having a trusted adult to turn to was identified as an important protective factor.
• Young people emphasised the importance of having welcoming spaces where they feel accepted, listened to and able to participate.

Although this isn’t specifically an online safety report there was an aspect of this that stood out to me around the emphasis on belonging and trusted relationships. It resonates with the thinking I’ve been having of late around the increased use of AI chatbots and, apart from the obvious curiosity, why children and young people may be turning to these. I don’t have any evidence to suggest there’s a direct connection, but I do wonder whether some children might be finding that sense of belonging or connection through AI chatbots.

Link:
The Children’s Society – The Good Childhood Report 2026

For Parents and Carers

Helping Children Stay Safe While Gaming

Online gaming is an important part of many children’s lives. It offers opportunities for fun, creativity and friendships, but many games also allow children to communicate and play with people they do not know offline.

Ofcom has produced practical advice for parents through its Parents Power Up campaign.

The guidance uses three simple steps:

• Check – Review your child’s account details, age settings and who they can communicate with.
• Chat – Talk regularly about the games they enjoy, who they play with and anything that makes them uncomfortable.
• Change – Review parental controls, privacy settings and communication options as your child grows.

This is a particularly useful resource for families approaching half-term, when children may have more time to spend gaming.

Link:
Ofcom – Parents Power Up: Helping Your Child Stay Safe While Gaming Online

Online Safety for Under-5s

Children are experiencing digital technology from increasingly younger ages, whether that’s watching videos, playing simple games or using tablets and other connected devices.

To help with this, Internet Matters has a dedicated online safety resource for parents and carers of children aged 0–5.

The guidance covers topics including:

• choosing age-appropriate apps, games and content;
• setting up parental controls;
• managing screen time and developing healthy habits;
• sharing photographs and information about young children;
• helping children begin to understand online safety.

The advice is particularly useful because it focuses on building positive digital habits from the beginning, rather than waiting until children are older before discussing online safety.

Link:
Internet Matters – Online Safety Advice for Children Aged 0–5