Conclusions and Predictions for the Future of Online Safety Policy.

Abstract

This concluding chapter reflects on the systemic flaws and persistent challenges within online safety policy, particularly regarding its alignment with young people’s needs and experiences. It critiques the policy path dependency and regulatory isomorphism that favour punitive and platform-centric approaches over proactive, evidence-based, and youth-centred strategies. The chapter highlights the inefficacy of current frameworks, such as the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, that emphasize stringent platform liability while failing to address the complex causes of online harm. Drawing from youth voices and historical insights, the chapter advocates for a shift towards a holistic model based on ecological systems theory, engaging stakeholders across the child’s microsystem to macrosystem in collaborative, educational, and supportive roles. Ultimately, it calls for a progressive paradigm in online safety policy that prioritizes harm reduction, digital literacy, and the active participation of young people, positioning their welfare and voices at the centre of future interventions.