The recent calls for a social media ban for under 16 year olds, have prompted a lot of parents across Plymouth Sutton and Devonport to get in touch with me. Many have shared the same worry with me: what is social media doing to our children’s sleep, concentration, and mental health? Whether I’m chatting with families in the city centre or meeting constituents in Devonport, the sentiment is clear. Some parents feel they are fighting a losing battle against platforms specifically designed to keep our kids scrolling.
Families in Plymouth are grappling with tough questions: How much screen time is too much? When is the right age for a first phone? What are they actually seeing behind that screen? There is also a growing anxiety about AI-the idea of our children talking to chatbots as if they were real people is something that many parents never expected to face.
A lot of people have contacted me calling for an outright ban on social media for under-16s. I truly understand that view; the desire to protect our children is a fundamental one. However, others-including major children’s charities-have warned that a blanket ban could drive young people toward the “Wild West” of less regulated corners of the internet, or leave them unprepared for the digital world they will inevitably enter.
That is why the Government has launched a consultation on children’s safety online. We aren’t looking for a “one-size-fits-all” fix that doesn’t work in practice; we are looking for evidence. This consultation will consider a wide range of views and look at the practicalities of making new rules actually stick.
Some of the key questions being considered include:
-
Minimum Age: Should there be a legal minimum age for social media, and what should it be?
-
Addictive Features: Should platforms be forced to switch off features like infinite scrolling and autoplay that keep kids hooked late into the night?
-
Overnight Curfews: Would mandatory digital curfews help our children get the sleep they need?
-
AI Restrictions: Should there be limits on how children interact with AI chatbots?
-
Age Verification: How do we make sure “age gates” actually work and aren’t just easily bypassed?
-
Digital Literacy: What specific help do Plymouth parents and teachers need to navigate this?
The consultation is open to everyone. The Government will respond in the summer, acting swiftly on the evidence gathered.
I would urge parents, carers, and, most importantly, young people across Plymouth to help shape the UK’s next steps on digital wellbeing. From the Sound to the Tamar, our community’s voice matters. As your MP, I am determined to ensure we get this right. We need to create a digital world that protects the childhood our young people deserve while preparing them for the future.
You can access all versions of the survey here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation
The consultation is open to everyone. The Government will respond in the summer, acting swiftly on the evidence gathered.
In the meantime, if you want to talk to your children about the content they see online, you can find helpful guidance at www.gov.uk/kidsonlinesafety.