- Young people met with Josh MacAlister MP in Westminster to discuss the Safer Phones Bill ahead of its second reading, highlighting that smartphones and social media are “an integral part” of their lives.
- MacAlister, who led the independent review into children’s social care, is considering raising the digital age of consent from 13 to 16. The meeting, organised by charities including the NSPCC and Barnardo’s, involved young people aged 13 to 17.
- “They explained to Josh MacAlister how they want the online world to be safer for them and shared concerns about risks such as unwanted communication from strangers, addictive scrolling, and exposure to distressing content,” said the NSPCC.
- “At the same time, they stressed that having a smartphone and access to social media is an integral part of their lives, helping them to learn about issues they care about, communicate, feel safe in unfamiliar environments, and explore new interests.”
- NSPCC associate head of child safety online, Kate Edwards, said, “We must not penalise young people for the failures of these companies to properly embed child safety into the services they design.”