Keeping Safe Online

Few Government proposals this year have generated as much debate as a social media ban for under-16s.

Parents regularly raise it in my inbox and, when I visit schools across Mid Dorset and North Poole, young people have plenty to say about it too. Unsurprisingly, most parents support tighter restrictions. What has been more interesting is hearing from older teenagers, many of whom reflect on the negative impact social media had on their younger selves. They recognise the problems caused by endless scrolling, addictive design and algorithms that promote harmful content.

But they also worry about losing access to a space where they communicate with friends, explore their interests and access the news in a digestible way. That concern deserves to be taken seriously.

It is easy for adults to look back on our own childhoods and suggest young people simply spend more time outdoors or talking to friends face-to-face. Yet the world has changed. Many teenagers travel long distances to school and increasingly rely on online spaces to stay connected.

The problem though is no longer confined to children. Increasingly, adults describe feeling unable to switch off from their phones. Many of us spend less time reading or concentrating than we once did. Social media platforms that began as ways to connect with friends have evolved into environments where misinformation, AI-generated content and outrage compete for our attention.

The Online Safety Act is improving the speed with which some harmful material is removed, and school smartphone restrictions will give children a break from the online world. But there are genuine questions about whether a blanket ban will work in practice. Sites like Instagram and Snapchat already operate minimum age limits, yet many younger children still access them. VPNs may make enforcement even more difficult.

That is why Liberal Democrats have argued for a different approach. We have called for social media platforms to adopt age classifications, like those used for films and video games. This would place greater responsibility on technology companies rather than children and parents.

At the same time, we must be careful not to cut vulnerable young people off from valuable sources of information, support and community. Many children out of school access education through online platforms, and not every young person has the home environment to access the mental health or other support that they need.

For my part, I have already raised concerns about Ofcom's ability to enforce its existing responsibilities. Whether it is broadband, scam calls, postal services or online safety, regulators must stand up for consumers. That is why I have secured a parliamentary debate on how Ofcom can improve its performance and better protect the public.

The reality is that this debate is about much more than children. The harmful effects of social media are now seeping into every part of society. Technology should serve us, not manipulate us. People should be able to choose what they see online, rather than having content selected to maximise engagement and advertising revenue.

This legislation may not be perfect but the status quo is no longer tenable and the Parliament is right to act. We cannot sit by whole so much of our online lives is shaped by algorithms designed to benefit billionaires and bots, rather than the people they are supposed to serve.