To earn her trip away to Netflix HQ in Amsterdam this week, we got Nicola to share what she thinks about this topic:

We talk a lot about digital adulthood when it comes to kids, but here’s a question worth asking: are we, as adults, really ready for the digital world ourselves?

At yesterday’s conference, most of the focus was on how to prepare children for life online. But that misses something important—plenty of adults are still figuring things out for themselves, often without much guidance or know-how.

The conversation around digital safety and literacy often comes from a place of privilege, and that’s something we need to recognise. For example, in the UK, around 7% of households still don’t have internet access. So when we talk about limiting screen time or banning phones from bedrooms, we’re having a conversation that doesn’t even apply to families who can’t afford the devices in the first place.

This digital gap complicates things. While we’re trying to protect young people from the risks of being online, we also have to make sure they have the access and skills they need to actually participate in today’s digital world. It’s a tricky balancing act—encouraging smart, safe digital use while making sure no one’s left behind.

So what’s next? We need to widen the lens. Digital literacy isn’t just a kids’ issue. It’s about building a system that helps both adults and young people get the tools and confidence they need to handle the online world safely—and successfully.

💻 We are planning on creating parent sessions to help navigate family life online. It is one thing we are investing our profits into to make sure we get it right without funders influencing the direction. 💻