As families across the United Kingdom enjoy the Easter break, ministers are ramping up efforts to support parents worried about their children’s online safety — while also signalling tougher

rules for tech companies in the near future.

With the Easter holidays in full swing, millions of children are spending more time at home — and, inevitably, more time on screens. From gaming and social media to streaming videos, the school break often brings a sharp rise in digital activity, leaving many parents questioning what their children are exposed to online.

Parents under pressure during Easter break

The Easter holidays in the UK typically last around two weeks, often including the long weekend of Good Friday and Easter Monday. It’s traditionally a time for family gatherings, day trips, and of course chocolate eggs — but for many parents, it also brings the challenge of managing screen time while juggling work and childcare.

This year is no different. With unpredictable spring weather and rising living costs limiting outdoor plans for some families, screens have become an easy fallback — and a growing concern.

Government steps in with support and regulation

In response, the government is promoting its free “You Won’t Know until You Ask” campaign, designed to help parents start open, practical conversations with their children about what they’re doing online.

The campaign offers simple tools and advice to make those discussions easier — without turning them into arguments — and has already attracted more than 120,000 families since launching earlier this year.

At the same time, ministers are preparing significant new measures aimed at forcing tech companies to better protect young users.

A major consultation — open until 26 May — outlines proposals that could reshape children’s digital experiences, including:

- Minimum age requirements for social media platforms

- Overnight restrictions on features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling

- Stronger limits on AI chatbot interactions for children

The consultation has already seen strong public engagement, with tens of thousands of responses submitted within its first month.

“Parents shouldn’t have to do this alone”

Online Safety Minister, Kanishka Narayan, said: “I’ve been hearing from parents and children across the country, and it’s clear this matters deeply to families. Platforms must be held accountable - and they will be. We are taking action to make sure they meet their responsibilities.

But I’ve also heard that parents want support, not just reassurance. Regulation alone won’t change culture overnight, and that’s why we’re giving families free, practical tools to have those conversations at home. We want every family to feel equipped and confident, not overwhelmed”.

A timely reminder for families

With at least another week of the Easter holidays remaining for many schools, officials say now is the ideal moment for parents to check in with their children’s online habits.

Even a simple question — asked at the right time — can help parents better understand what their children are seeing and experiencing online.

As families balance Easter traditions with modern digital life, the message from government is clear: keeping children safe online should be a shared responsibility — not one carried by parents alone. Photo by Michael Coppins, Wikimedia commons.