Like many of you, I am worried about the impact that smartphones and social media are having on young people’s mental health, concentration and wellbeing. More needs to be done. That’s why I wrote to the Prime Minister last week in support of raising the minimum age for access to social media to 16.
Many of you will have seen that the Government has announced a consultation looking at a range of options for the next steps in addressing this issue. This will include a possible ban on social media for under-16s. I welcome this consultation and I will share details when they are announced so that people can directly make their views known. Please do also share your views with me in the usual way at www.michellescrogham.com/contact.
The consultation builds on the protections already introduced in the online safety act, and the new guidance for schools about banning mobile phones during the school day.
Clearly we need to take action on this issue, and I will continue to make the case for further measures to protect children online.