I have received numerous emails and letters about proposals that could see the UK follow Australia in raising the minimum age for access to social media to 16.
This is an issue that has generated strong and divided opinions, and one on which I have not yet reached a final view. That is why I want to hear directly from my constituents about what you think.
There is no doubt that technology can enrich children’s lives and support their learning and development. The digital world offers opportunities to learn, explore and create. However, it can also expose young people to harm.
Online spaces can be unsafe, contribute to bullying, and promote unrealistic or damaging views of the world. Social media platforms are also designed to be highly addictive, meaning children (and adults) can end up spending far too much time on screens and not enough time interacting face-to-face. Poor mental health and anxiety amongst our young people has grown, with many attributing social media as a contributing factor.
In March last year, the Government committed to making progress on children’s online safety within a year. I welcome the fact that they have now set out how they intend to support children in the digital age. This is a major concern for many parents in Chesterfield, and I have previously raised these issues with the Government. However, there is currently no clear consensus on the best way forward.
That is why I support the Government’s decision to launch a national conversation on how best to protect children online. This process will gather evidence and views from parents, children, researchers and charities.
As part of this work, the Government will consider a range of questions, including:
- whether there should be a ban on social media for children under a certain age
- how age-assurance systems can be improved to ensure age limits are properly enforced
- whether the current digital age of consent is set too low
- whether features that drive addictive or compulsive use, such as infinite scrolling, should be limited or removed
- and what more can be done to support parents, including clearer guidance and simpler parental controls
I believe most people agree that changes are needed to better protect children online. However, it is essential that we strike the right balance between safeguarding young people and allowing them to benefit from technology in positive and constructive ways.
I would be grateful if you could share your views by clicking the link below to vote in my poll and to let me know your views:
Have Your Say on social media access for under 16s Survey
Whatever your views on the proposal to ban social media for the under 16s, it’s important to have open conversations about what children are being exposed to online.
The ‘You Won’t Know Until You Ask Campaign’ highlights why and provides practical help to get started.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/is-your-child-influenced-by-toxic-content-new-government-campaign-supports-parents-to-talk-about-harmful-online-content
