Graham welcomes Government U-turn on keeping children safe online
Graham has welcomed the Government’s decision to back stronger protections for children online, after more than a year of listening to parents in Beverley and Holderness about smartphones and social media.
The Prime Minister has announced plans for a ban on social media for under-16s.
Graham has been talking to local parents about this for well over a year. The message has been clear: parents want to know their children are safe online.
That is why Graham has run a local survey, taken parents’ concerns to Parliament and backed stronger action.
In Graham’s local survey, 98 residents responded. 83 people supported keeping smartphones out of schools for under-16s, while 81 supported restricting social media accounts for under-16s.
Parents from across Beverley and Holderness raised concerns about bullying, harmful content, sleep, distraction, anxiety and children spending less time playing or talking properly.
One parent in Woodmansey told Graham that her children wish their friends did not have phones, because play dates can become children sitting on screens instead of playing together.
Graham has said the Government’s change of mind is welcome, but the test now is whether the new rules work in practice.
He wants the burden to fall on the tech companies, not parents, and for the Government to make sure children are not simply pushed towards less regulated and more harmful parts of the internet.
The Conservatives have pushed for a clear under-16 social media ban since January. The Government resisted stronger action, but has now changed its mind.
Laura Trott MP, Shadow Education Secretary, said:
“It’s shameful that it’s taken the Prime Minister’s job to be on the line for the Government to finally U-turn and ban social media for under-16s.
“Three times Labour voted against a ban, failing to stand up to Big Tech and protect children from the extreme content they are exposed to every day.
“As Conservatives we did not give up, I kept fighting for the brave, bereaved parents, health professionals, and campaigners who continued to make the case for change. This victory belongs to them. The Conservatives in opposition can make a difference and this change will finally help parents and protect childhood.”
Graham said: “I have been talking to parents in Beverley and Holderness about this for well over a year.
“The answer has always been the same. They want to know their children are safe online. That is not too much to ask.
“That is why I ran a local survey, raised the issue in Parliament and backed stronger action.
“At times, I honestly wondered whether the Government would ever act. Parents and campaigners kept making the case, but ministers kept resisting stronger action.
“So, I welcome the fact that the Government has finally changed its mind and decided to do something about it.
“Now it has to work in the real world. Children still need safe ways to communicate, especially in rural areas like ours. But that is very different from giving them access to addictive feeds, harmful content and algorithms designed to keep them scrolling.
“The burden must fall on the platforms, not parents. Parents should not have to fight billion-pound tech companies from the kitchen table.”
