Ofcom Video Sharing Platforms (25-094582-01) - Detailed Consent Form - Parent of Children Under 12


Brief description of research:

This research looks to understand how people watch video content online.

Thank you for your interest in taking part in this research which is completely voluntarily. The research is being conducted by Ipsos (market research) Limited and Ipsos UK Limited, an independent market research agency based in the United Kingdom, on behalf of Ofcom. 

The research will consist of 4 stages. You and your child will be asked to take part in 2 OR 3 OR all 4 stages of the research. 

This consists of the following: 

Stage 1: Private 5-day online media diary (approx. 150 minutes of tasks over the 5 days) via Ipsos’ in-house platform known as Community Direct

Stage 2: 90 minutes in person interview in your home

Stage 3: Private 30 minutes online post task via the same platform as stage 1

Stage 4: One-to-one 30 minutes online interview hosted on Zoom

You have the right to withdraw from the research at any time. For more information about your rights, please see the privacy notice.

You will receive an incentive for you and your child’s participation. This will be paid to you when the stages listed above are complete (April 2026). 

Information you will share as part of this research:

If you and your child give us your explicit consent, audio and video recordings and photographs of you and your child taking part may take place in the following ways across stages:

Stage 1: Online Diary – Your will have the option to upload photos and videos of you and your child’s media-related activities. You will be asked to make every effort not to include images of people who are not taking part in the study. You will also be asked to download and share you and your child’s YouTube viewing history. Instructions will be given on how to do this and how to redact any information you do not wish for them to share with us.

Stage 2: In home interview – This interview will be audio recorded for the purpose of creating a transcript and photos showing how they typically watch videos online may be taken. Photographs may also be taken of you and your child’s YouTube viewing setup.

Stage 3: Online Discovery Activity – You and your child will have the option to upload photos and videos of their media-related activities. Again, you will be asked to make every effort not to include images of people who are not taking part in the study

Stage 4: Online interview – This discussion will be video recorded for the purpose of creating a transcript. They will also be asked if they are happy to share a short part of the video recording of the final part of the interview with Ofcom.

These recordings and photographs may be used by Ipsos staff and Ofcom for research and analysis, quality control purposes and private presentations. Please note that we may store photographs and video recordings on our, or our sub-contractors’, systems – these will be hosted inside the United Kingdom and the European Union. If you consent, your online task responses and interview may also be viewed live by Ofcom.

Please be assured that any research recordings and photographs will be held by Ipsos and Ofcom in strict confidence, solely for the above research purposes. Ipsos will securely store the information you provide and will securely destroy this information once it is no longer needed (December 2026).

If you are happy for us to ask your child if they would like to take part, and for the audio, photos and video recording of their participation to be used in this way, please read the following, then fill in and sign the form below.

The research has been explained to me and I have been given a full explanation about the possible uses of any photographs, audio and/or video recordings of my child. I have also been given a copy of the project’s privacy notice. I consent to you asking my child if they would like to take part and, if my child does take part, I agree to the following:

Pre-task

I consent to providing images, audio and/or videos of my child’s media-related activities for the online diary and make every effort not to include any images/video of anyone who has not consented to take part in the study

I consent using the provided instructions, to download and share my child’s YouTube viewing history as a recent screenshot of Screen Time smartphone summary (which, for both, they can redact any information that they do not wish to share)

In-Home Interview 

I consent to the in-home interview of my child and myself being audio recorded and photos showing how my child and I typically watch videos online being taken

I consent to audio recordings of interviews being temporarily shared with Ofcom

OPTIONAL – YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TICK “YES” TO TAKE PART IN THE RESEARCH PROJECT For the in‑home interview (Stage 2), an Ofcom researcher may observe the session. Please tick “Yes” only if you are happy for your personal details to be shared with Ofcom for this purpose, and for an Ofcom colleague to attend the interview. Any personal details shared with Ofcom for observation purposes will be used only for this interview and will be securely deleted immediately afterwards.

Online Discovery Activity 

If chosen to take part, I consent to providing images, audio and/or videos of my child and my ‘Discovery Session’ and I will make every effort not to include any images/video of anyone who has not consented to take part in the study

Online follow-up interview 

If chosen to take part, I consent for the online follow-up interview for my child to be audio and video recorded

If chosen to take part, I understand that the online interview with myself and my child will be taking place on Zoom, and that potential viewers from the research team at Ofcom may choose to observe the interview

OPTIONAL - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TICK “YES” TO TAKE PART IN THE RESEARCH PROJECT If chosen to take part, I consent for the audio and video of the final part of the interview to be shared with Ofcom for internal use only. You can still take part in the 30-minute interview even if you do not agree to the recorded section.

I consent to quotes of things I or my child may say (either in text or verbally) during any stage of the research to be used in a published report alongside some broad demographic details (such as a pseudonym in place of my/their name, age, location e.g. London and socioeconomic grade)

I confirm that I have read, understood, and accept the points above and am happy to proceed with the research on this basis. I consent to Ipsos collecting and using the information about me and my child that I voluntarily provide during the research.

I agree to Ipsos re-contacting me regarding this piece of research

I have been provided with a copy of the privacy notice and confirm I have read this

Are you happy for Ipsos UK to re-contact you and your child regarding this research?

Consent of Young Person (12 Years Old and Under)

The project has been explained to me and any questions I may have were answered. I also know that I do not have to take part if I don’t want to.

I would like to take part and understand that any photos, audio or video recordings that I submit or that are taken of me may be used as part of the research findings.

I confirm I am happy to take part in the research project.

Retain for future reference:

If you have any further questions, please contact [email protected] and quote: Ofcom Video Sharing Platform 25-094582-01

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Document name: Ofcom Video Sharing Platforms (25-094582-01) - Detailed Consent Form - Parent of Children Under 12
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March 24, 2026 5:56 pm BSTOfcom Video Sharing Platforms (25-094582-01) - Detailed Consent Form - Parent of Children Under 12 Uploaded by Frances Thomas-Gregory - [email protected] IP 212.42.190.49
March 24, 2026 6:14 pm BSTFrances Thomas-Gregory - [email protected] added by Frances Thomas-Gregory - [email protected] as a CC'd Recipient Ip: 212.42.190.49
March 24, 2026 6:30 pm BSTFrances Thomas-Gregory - [email protected] added by Frances Thomas-Gregory - [email protected] as a CC'd Recipient Ip: 212.42.190.49