EditorShould under-16s be banned from social media? Llanelli MP’s urgent plea as parents warned of kids’ secret online lives
The UK Government has launched a major consultation to gather views on how to protect children from the ever-growing risks of social media, AI chatbots, and gaming platforms.
It comes as the debate rages over whether to introduce an Australia-style ban on under-16s using the platforms, a move already backed by a cross-party group of more than 60 MPs, including Gower’s Tonia Antoniazzi and Mid and South Pembrokeshire’s Henry Tufnell.
The consultation will explore a number of significant potential changes, including whether platforms should be forced to switch off addictive features like infinite scrolling and autoplay, and whether mandatory overnight curfews for social media use would help children sleep better.
The move follows stark warnings on Safer Internet Day that half of parents in Britain have never had a single conversation with their child about harmful online content — even though most 11-year-olds now own a smartphone.
Experts have also warned that many parents are completely unaware of the hidden meanings behind popular emojis, which are increasingly used by young people to discuss everything from drugs and sex to self-harm and bullying.
Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith with Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. (Image: Office of Nia Griffith MP)Now, Dame Nia Griffith has issued a direct plea to families in Llanelli to make their voices heard, saying keeping children safe online is one of the major challenges of our time.
“Parents across Llanelli worry about what social media is doing to their children’s sleep, concentration and mental health. They are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having. They worry about AI, and about their children talking to chatbots as if they’re real people.
“I very much want to see us do much more to protect under-16s from social media, with its very powerful algorithms and increasingly disturbing content, and I would certainly support a ban on under-16s using social media. But, like any legislation, it needs to be carefully thought through, and enforceable.
“The UK Labour Government is determined to act, and I want people in Llanelli to help shape what that looks like.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who met with Dame Nia to discuss the consultation, said the Government was determined to act on the evidence gathered.
“The path to a good life is a great childhood, one full of love, learning and play. That applies just as much to the online world as it does to the real one.
“We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.”
The three-month consultation is open to everyone, with dedicated versions available for young people and for parents and carers. It can be found at gov.uk and will close on 26 May.
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