Growing up online - UK consultation call to action

In this first episode  Florence shares why every UK parent should respond to the government's national consultation Growing Up in the Online World before it closes on 26 May 2026. The consultation covers social media, gaming, and AI chatbots — and your voice could directly shape new laws protecting children online.

Link to the parent survey: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation

Topics covered in this episode: AI chatbots and children, the UK national consultation on children's online safety, why parents need a seat at the table, and how 15 minutes of your time could help shape UK digital policy for children

Transcript

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I have just completed the parent section of the national consultation growing up in the online world and I genuinely think any parent listening to this should do the same. Actually, children are invited to give their opinion too. What a great way to involve them in such a big part of their daily lives and open the debate with them directly. The consultation covers social media, gaming, AI chatbots, and it closes on the 26th of May. This is an easy, quick and free way to get your voice out there. So, what is this consultation about? It was launched on March 2nd by the UK government to ask the public to help shape new laws protecting children online. The questions asked are mainly about what, in your view, is to be prioritized and what worries you the most about your child using social media, but also AI chatbots. They want to know what you think about the effectiveness of minimum age for children and what age that should be. They're asking about mobile phones in schools being regulated by law. And this is the one that matters most for this podcast. They are specifically asking about AI chatbots. We already know that nearly three in four teenagers have used an AI companion app. That one in eight are turning to chatbots for emotional support. And that AI chatbots agree with children 49% more often than real humans do, even when the child is wrong. We cannot afford to wait to have a say on how our children should be exposed to these AI chatbots. I leave it with you to look at those questions yourself. It will take 15 minutes of your time and it is worth it. I would only warn you, now I've done it myself, that you will be given something like 10 answers to one question and can only choose three of them. But jokes aside, this is a real way to start advocating for your children's rights. I started the AI Mom podcast because I believe parents deserve to have a seat at the table when decisions are made about our children's digital world. This consultation is really a good start. I'm Florence. This is the AI Mom Podcast, and no AI is replacing this mom.