Children in Britain are spending hours each day online, and new evidence suggests that as many as 70% are being exposed to videos showing real life violence. That is deeply troubling. As a parent myself, I am increasingly concerned about the lasting impact that unregulated social media use is having on children and young people.
We know that growing exposure to violent and extremist content online is linked to poor mental health, disrupted sleep, and increasing isolation. Social media platforms are simply not designed with children’s wellbeing in mind, yet they play a central role in daily life for many young people. Without meaningful action to change what children are exposed to online, there is a real risk of long term and permanent harm.
We are at a critical moment. Doing nothing is simply not an option.
I raised these concerns directly with the Minister, asking what further steps are being taken to protect children online and what lessons we can learn from countries such as Australia, where a ban on social media for under 16s is already enforced. While I welcome the Government’s announcement that it will consult on tighter regulations for under 16s, consultation must not become a substitute for action. The urgency of this issue demands real progress now.
This issue has also been brought home to me locally. At the end of 2024, I received nearly a thousand letters from pupils at St Peter’s Secondary School in Exeter, many of whom spoke candidly about their struggles with mental health. It is difficult not to draw a correlation between the increased difficulties our children are experiencing with their mental health and the increase in social media use. The letters were sobering and reinforced my determination to push for the stronger protections that are needed.
That is why, over the last year, I have begun progressing work on developing a mental health resilience programme for schools, alongside pushing for stronger protections online. I recently held the first roundtable discussion, bringing together local schools, health professionals, and community organisations. While this work is still at an early stage, I am determined to ensure that young people are better protected from harmful online content and supported to build the confidence and resilience necessary to succeed.
Protecting children must remain a priority. The choices we make now, including whether we are prepared to take decisive action on social media use for under 16s, will shape the world the next generation grows up in. We owe it to them to take this responsibility seriously.
