Sweden is scaling back the use of digital devices in schools, with a focus instead on printed books and handwriting. The move follows growing concern among educators and policymakers that heavy reliance on tablets and laptops may be contributing to a decline in basic literacy skills and students’ ability to concentrate. Preschools in Sweden will no longer be required to use digital tools, and children under the age of two will not be given tablets….
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The Molly Rose Foundation commissioned YouthInsight, Australia, to carry out the first large-scale research with children aged 12-15 in Australia to explore their response to the  social media ban, introduced in Australia at the end of last year. The research with 1,050 young people found that three in five (61%) who had accounts on restricted platforms before the ban still have access to at least one account. More than half of those who previously used…
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A new survey from the NASUWT teaching union suggests nearly 3 in 4 UK secondary teachers are considering leaving the profession due to burnout. The same survey of NASUWT members shows 70% report stress at work has had an impact on their teaching, with 34% explaining this stress had been significant and severe. The survey speaks to 1,000 UK secondary school teachers in both state and independent schools. Teachers are aware that stress can have…
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Australia’s internet regulator has warned that major social media platforms are failing to fully enforce the country’s ban on under-16s, introduced in late 2025. The law applies to 10 platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, but many children still appear to have access to these platforms. In its first report since the ban, the regulator said it had identified “a number of poor practices” from the five platforms. This includes allowing users who…
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The UK government has issued new guidance on how much time children below the age of five should spend on screens. The guidance has been developed with input from parents and an expert panel led by Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and Professor Russell Viner, a paediatrician and specialist in children’s health. It recommends that children under two should avoid screen time altogether, except for shared activities that encourage interaction such as video calls….
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Young people transitioning from child to adult healthcare services often face significant gaps in care and support. Too old for children’s healthcare but not yet ready for adult systems, it can be an intimidating transition that makes young people feel particularly vulnerable. To address this challenge, digital learning company Desq has partnered with South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Acute Federation and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust in the UK to deliver targeted training for professionals working with young…
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The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has published a new Evidence and Insights Pack examining harmful sexual behaviour, misogyny and violence carried out by children across England and Wales. The report shows proven sexual offences by children rose by 47% in 2023–24, followed by a further 6% increase in the latest year (the YJB notes however this may partly reflect improved reporting and detection). The research also highlights the widespread experiences of sexual harassment and image-based…
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New research from the National Literacy Trust has found that socioeconomic pressures, alongside gaps in confidence and knowledge, are contributing to a decline in parents’ engagement with activities that support early literacy. In a survey of 3,000 parents of 0–5 year olds, fewer than half said they read daily with their children (45.9%), just over half played daily (51.6%), and while chatting daily remains most common (70.2%), all three activities have fallen sharply since 2019 (22%). Key…
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The UK government has launched what it describes as a “landmark” and highly ambitious three-month public consultation to shape future policies on children’s digital wellbeing. It is seeking views from parents, carers, young people, academics and professionals who work with children on how to better protect them across social media, gaming platforms and AI chatbots. Building on the Online Safety Act 2023, the consultation will examine how technology affects children’s daily lives and aims to…
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Posts gamifying school violence have appeared on young people’s social media accounts across London this week. Accounts promoting ‘school wars’ have been created on Snapchat and TikTok, encouraging secondary school pupils to fight each other, sometimes with the aid of weapons. This is an issue the Metropolitan Police Service are investigating thoroughly. Speaking about the issue, Commander Neerav Patel says his department has been in contact with platforms to take the accounts down. He also…
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