MP calls for social media sites to be rated in the same way as films

A Wiltshire MP wants social media sites to be rated for age-appropriateness in the same way films are in order to keep young people safe.

Melksham and Devizes representative, Dr Brian Mathew, says he's "deeply concerned" about the impact online platforms are having on children across the country.

He wants a system introduced where sites are rated for the appropriate audience based on the risks they pose, insisting protecting children online must come before profits.

In a post on Facebook, Dr Mathew said: "My message to the big tech companies is simple: if your platform spreads harmful content or relies on addictive algorithms, you should not be anywhere near our young people."

The Online Safety Act of 2023 calls for social media sites not just to remove harmful content, but to actively prevent it from appearing at all.

It requires platforms to consider their design to reduce the likelihood of them being used by criminals to target children.

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