A year ago, I stood in the House of Commons and argued that we could not simply accept a childhood shaped by addictive algorithms, anonymous strangers and online harms.
I said then that childhood was increasingly being reshaped by products deliberately designed to maximise attention. Infinite scrolling, autoplay videos and recommendation algorithms were not accidents. They were features designed to keep children online for longer.
And I made a commitment that we needed to move from warm words to real action within a year.
This week, the Government has delivered, announcing a landmark ban on social media for under-16s. It is a major step forward in protecting children online and giving them the childhood they deserve.
For many parents and children in West Cumbria, this announcement will be welcome news. Over the last few years, I have heard the same concerns time and again: worries about excessive screen time, harmful content, online bullying, and the pressure social media places on young people’s wellbeing.
Technology brings enormous benefits. It helps us stay connected, learn new skills and access opportunities that previous generations could only dream of. But the status quo is not working.
Children are growing up in an online environment that many adults would struggle to navigate. Too often they are exposed to risks and pressures that no parent would knowingly choose for them.
That had to change.
The new measures place responsibility where it belongs: on the platforms themselves. Social media companies will be required to prevent under-16s from accessing their services and face stronger requirements to keep children safe online.
While national action is essential, I also believe families need practical support here in West Cumbria.
That is why I’m hosting a public meeting on 3rd July at the Carnegie in Workington on the theme of Children Growing Up Online. I want parents, carers and young people to share their experiences, hear more about the changes being made nationally and help shape the next stage of this important debate.
The meeting will also mark the launch of my new Parent and Teacher Pact programme for West Cumbria.
From September, every family with a child starting Year 7 at St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s, West Lakes, Whitehaven or Workington academies or joining Energy Coast UTC will be offered free access to Triple P, one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world. It provides practical support on issues including screen time, online safety and building positive family relationships.
The national changes announced this week and the local work we are launching in West Cumbria are driven by the same belief: childhood matters, parents deserve support and technology should serve children, not the other way around.
A year ago, I demanded action. Now, the government is delivering it.
You can register to attend the public meeting at joshmacalister.uk/meetjosh or by calling 01946 458023, leaving your name and address.
Josh MacAlister MP 