Children who create and view livestreams
Published: 21 May 2026
Last updated: 10 September 2026
This page provides an overview and links to our findings from our livestreaming research, including two qualitative reports and one quantiative report into children who create and children who view livesteams.
Behavioural Audit of Livestreaming Services
Published: 9 September 2026
This research examined how livestreaming service design influences user behaviour and online safety, for users watching and creating livestreams using a behavioural audit methodology.
Understanding online communications among children
Published: 9 November 2023
Last updated: 9 September 2026
Ofcom has been conducting research to understand children’s experiences of communications online, including any uncomfortable or unwanted contact and receiving sexualised messages.
Transparency notice: Research on online platforms to explore online safety
Published: 9 February 2023
Last updated: 24 August 2026
A notice explaining how, in support of our online safety research, Ofcom will sometimes create accounts with fictional personas.
Experiences of Age Assurance, Use of VPNs, and attitudes to the Protection of Children Measures
Published: 21 May 2026
Last updated: 15 July 2026
A dedicated page compiling data on experiences of age assurance, VPN use, and attitudes towards Protection of Children measures.
Proving age to access online pornography
Published: 12 February 2026
Last updated: 15 July 2026
Ofcom has commissioned a survey of UK internet users aged 16+ who self‑report having accessed pornographic content online, to understand how they access such content and their past experiences with age checks.
Protective defaults for social media platforms
Published: 13 July 2026
A randomised controlled trial testing retention of defaults for children and adults
Transparency notice: Research on AI chatbot, social media and video sharing platforms to explore online safety
Published: 22 June 2026
Our transparency notices inform the public of ongoing research under the Online Safety Act to understand children’s experiences online, including how AI chatbots and social media services may expose underage users to harmful content.
Younger phone owners, the rise of AI, and consumption over creation – our latest look at UK children’s media lives
Published: 21 May 2026
We’ve published our latest research into how children spend their time online and interact with different forms of media.
Children's online experiences research report
Published: 21 May 2026
This report brings together findings from our comprehensive research programme to understand how children experience the online world, including their use of services and exposure to harmful content before and after new children’s safety duties came into force.