🛢️More Than Robots #99 March 2026

Aye they are come, but they are not gone - Plutrach

Welcome to the ides

📖 Research

New frontiers in child labour

While poverty and economic vulnerability remain important drivers, digital child labour is also shaped by newer commercial, technological and social dynamics, including platform- and influencer-based economies and the commercialisation of children’s digital identities

Digital Insight and Agency Scale’ (DIAS)

Most young people displayed agency in managing their digital activity, suggesting that this could be leveraged in interventions, rather than focusing solely on reducing access and time spent online.

Media Literacy Parent's study

61% of parents haven’t come across resources, don’t recall seeing them, or don’t know if they’ve seen them. Also: Nordic Media Literacy Survey and Exploring Challenges And Best Practice In Media Literacy

How Do Video Games Affect Mental Health?

Substantial evidence links certain game features and business models to financial harms and mental health consequences. Also: From gambling-like elements in and around video games to monetary gambling

Preparing young people to vote in a complex, attention-driven information environment

Only 53% of young people who see political information online say they feel confident telling whether this information is true or false. Also: Young People’s Futures and Democratic Life Project – Votes at 16

Reducing social media use decreases loneliness: A randomized controlled trial

On average, reducing 78 min/day of social media led to decreased loneliness. Also: Online Health Taskforce Final Report

Health economics analysis of restrictive school smartphone policies in secondary schools in England (SMART Schools)

Restrictive school policies were associated with minimal differences in quality of life or mental well-being of pupils. However, they may offer some cost savings to schools by reducing staff time spent managing phone-related activities. Also: Delaying adolescent smartphone ownership: A qualitative dyadic study with parents and adolescents

How the World Lives with AI

58% of people trust AI chatbots more than elected representatives. AI is three times less likely to cause doubt than social media. Also: 'Trust in AI is often articulated through comparative reasoning, with GenAI positioned as more reliable than collaboratively produced sources such as Wikipedia.'- European children's use and understanding of generative AI. and Smart tech, safe choices and International AI Safety Report 2026

A Healthy Influence? Children’s Exposure To Appearance-Changing Products Online

Young people told us that the majority of the short-form content they viewed was labelled as adverts. Also: Exposure to Alcohol-Related Social Media Content and Desire to Drink Among Young Adults and Consumer awareness and understanding of influencer marketing and

🗳️Take part

The Young Creatives Commission

A national commission exploring how access to arts and creative opportunities can be rebuilt for young people across England.

Growing up in the online world: a national consultation

Government consultation on 'further measures to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change.' Also: Global Social Media Age Restriction Tracker

🧰 Resources

Skills UploadrJnr

Training and lesson plans on digital wellbeing and related issues

Enough

Campaign and supporting resources to tackle violence against women and girls

CrossPlay

A community at the intersection of parenting and games.

💡Inspiration and opinion

Borrowed Maps

We built something that can pass our personality tests, scales, exams. The more pressing question is what that reveals about the tests. Also: The (im)possibility of AI literacy

Understanding 'good enough' parenting and toddlers' tech use

When was the last time anybody ever said to a parent ‘You’re doing a really good job’?

Children’s Autonomy in the Age of AI

Agency cannot be understood solely as an individual trait. Children do not develop autonomy in isolation. Their motivations, decisions, and self-regulation are shaped by parents, peers, teachers, platforms, and increasingly, AI systems. Also: Adolescents & Anthropomorphic AI: Rethinking Design For Wellbeing

…and finally

Regulators regulate - meanwhile...