The government has today set out further action to improve the relationship of children and young people with mobile phones and social media, an issue that Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister has worked on since he was elected.
The government will bring forward a rapid three-month consultation on additional measures to keep children safe online. This will include consideration of options such as restricting access to social media for children under 16, raising the digital age of consent, and addressing features that can encourage excessive or compulsive use.
In a statement to Parliament announcing the plans, the Secretary of State for Technology, Liz Kendall, referenced the Safer Phones Bill put forward by Josh MacAlister last year before he was appointed as a Minister:
“Last year, the Government said in response to a Private Member’s Bill brought forward by my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven and Workington (Josh MacAlister) that there would have to be further action on these issues.
“Today I can tell the House that we will bring forward a swift three-month consultation on further measures to keep children safe online. That will include the option of banning social media for children under 16 and raising the digital age of consent, to stop companies using children’s data without their or their parents’ consent.
“We will consult parents, the organisations representing children and bereaved parents, technology companies and, crucially, children and young people themselves, because their views and voices must be heard… We will make sure that the consultation is evidence-led, with input from independent experts.”
Alongside the consultation, immediate steps will be taken in schools. Ofsted inspectors will check that mobile phone policies are in place and effectively enforced at every inspection, supported by clearer national guidance making it explicit that schools should be phone-free environments by default. Schools that need support will be able to draw on expertise from Attendance and Behaviour Hub schools already implementing these policies successfully.
Parents will also be supported with new, evidence-based guidance on screen time for children aged 5 to 16, complementing guidance for under-fives due later this year which was announced last week.
Josh MacAlister MP said:
“I’ve heard from hundreds of young people, parents, teachers and health professionals in Cumbria and across the country about the harms of unchecked social media use and screen time. Many feel that the pace of technology has been set without children’s wellbeing at its heart.
“From my Safer Phones Bill onwards, I’ve been clear that we need firm, practical rules that back parents and schools, not leave them to cope alone. The government’s proposals seek to address this, giving children and young people in Cumbria and across the country the freedom to learn, play and grow without constant digital pressure. Phones and social media should serve young people – not the other way around.
“I urge local young people, parents, educators and others to engage with the consultation and make sure your views are heard. I will be organising local opportunities to have your say – sign up to my e-mail list for details.”
The proposals build on the UK’s world-leading online safety framework and wider reforms to give every child the best possible start in life, including curriculum reform and stronger digital and media literacy skills. Evidence from around the world will be examined, with ministers learning directly from international approaches, including in Australia.
For Cumbria’s families, schools and communities, the message is clear: children’s wellbeing comes first, online as well as offline, and the next phase of reform will be shaped by those most affected.
Watch Josh’s video following the announcement
Josh MacAlister MP 