Labour MP calls for better regulation of social media to protect children
38% of children in Milton Keynes said they had seen explicit or age-inappropriate content
A Labour MP in Milton Keynes is calling for better regulation on social media to protect children, saying it's "shocking" that children are being exposed to “pornography, self-harm, bullying, or eating-disorder material”.
Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central, carried out a survey of more than 500 local school children aged 14-16.
The findings show 38% of children in her constituency said they had seen explicit or age-inappropriate content, with almost two-thirds saying they’ve seen it without searching for it.
Ms Darlington says, “the government needs to hold these social media companies to account”.
Adding: “I really feel that if we're a lot clearer as a government about our laws are in the UK, and how our laws that are offline, apply online - around content, behaviours, and advertising, then we can create safe spaces.”
The Labour MP also says there needs to be better regulation on social media to prevent young people accessing age-inappropriate content.
"They shouldn't be exposed to material, whether it's pornography, self-harm, bullying, or eating-disorder material”.
"We have something similar on television, we know what movies are appropriate for children versus what movies are appropriate for adults - All we're asking for is that same kind of rules and regulations be applied in the online world."
Consultation to shape future measures
The Government yesterday launched a three-month consultation into children’s digital wellbeing, with the aim of engaging directly with parents and children across the country to shape longer-term measures.
The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology also launched the ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign, to provide parents with practical support to have a conversation with their children about the content they see online.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “I know many parents are worried about what their children see and do online - often out of sight, and at times beyond their control.
We’re launching a new campaign to support parents and give them practical tools to have regular, open conversations with their children about what they see and how they interact online.
We are determined to give children the childhood they deserve and prepare them for the future. That is why we are supporting parents with this campaign and launching a consultation on how young people can live and thrive in the age of social media.”
A Government spokesperson also said: “Through the Online Safety Act, we have introduced some of the strongest online safety protections in the world. This requires platforms to protect children from harmful content, including pornography and material relating to eating disorders, bullying and self-harm.
“But we were always clear that the Act wasn't the end of the conversation. We’re launching a national consultation on bold measures to protect children online, from banning social media for under-16s to tackling addictive design features. When it comes to children's safety, nothing is off the table.”