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Digital Safety: Children
08 June 2026
Lead MP
Kanishka Narayan
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Culture, Media & SportChildren & Families
Other Contributors: 49
At a Glance
Kanishka Narayan raised concerns about digital safety: children in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Prime Minister has announced that the Government will strengthen children’s online safety, including new expectations on technology companies to introduce crucial safety measures on children’s phones. The Government are concerned about unacceptable levels of sexual harm faced by children online, such as grooming, sextortion and coercion into sharing intimate images. To address this issue, they have set out expectations for device-level protections which will prevent children from taking, sharing or viewing nude imagery across all core functionalities like camera, messaging apps, search functions and file sharing. The Government urge industry to take action within three months, and if not, the government will legislate. A consultation on 'Growing up in the online world' closed recently and updates are expected soon.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
Questions the sudden urgency of the Government's response, criticising it as driven by political pressure rather than timely action. Asks why legislation isn't brought forward and urges the Minister to remember children harmed online.
Minister reply
Defends the government’s actions, highlighting robust measures taken on cyber-flashing and pornographic content regulation. Criticises the Liberal Democrats for lack of relevance and inconsistency in supporting similar proposals.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Question
Welcomes the announcement but questions if it is shocking that tech companies need to be told what is unacceptable. Asks whether this issue lies with a lack of understanding or decency at the heart of these companies.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the point, stating that it is not a technology problem and that we have the capability to enforce action now.
Question
Congratulates the shadow on securing the urgent question. Criticises the Government’s record of inaction compared to Labour’s track record, suggesting the Prime Minister's actions are driven by political pressure and a need for a legacy.
Minister reply
Responds by pointing out that it was seven years for the Conservatives to pass an inadequate Bill. Emphasises that the current government listens and acts robustly based on public feedback. Acknowledges concerns about existing devices but notes that major providers are applying age assurance at the device level.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
Welcomes the announcement but expresses concern over social media companies downplaying issues, underplaying their own responses' effectiveness. Asks for assurances that legislation is already being drafted to avoid delays in protecting children.
Minister reply
Confirms they are working closely with the Home Office and ready to legislate if necessary within three months.
Danny Chambers
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
The Member expressed disappointment at the Minister's response during an urgent question, questioning why the Prime Minister is pleading with tech companies instead of leading the charge to block child sexual abuse material on smartphones. The MP also referred to the dangers posed by chatbots like Grok.
Minister reply
The minister countered that parents and young people had engaged strongly in a consultation process involving 116,000 individuals, and stated that the Government is acting robustly, mentioning significant changes secured with major providers.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Croydon Central
Question
The MP asked about criteria for deciding which platforms are safe or unsafe for young people to access, and whether parents would have the responsibility of enforcement.
Minister reply
The minister assured that it will not be left to parents; rather, platforms must take responsibility for enforcement.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
The Member suggested a last chance saloon approach towards tech companies and proposed decisive action if necessary.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the MP for wise counsel and indicated that it would be taken into account.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
The Member argued that legislation is needed to compel tech companies to act, rather than relying on voluntary measures.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledged the inadequacy of current company actions but highlighted progress made and commitment to further legal action if necessary.
Kit Malthouse
Con
North West Hampshire
Question
The Member questioned whether guidance for parents about screen usage would address parents’ own screen time in front of young children.
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that parent-child screen usage will be addressed as part of media literacy campaigns.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Question
The MP expressed appreciation for the Government's consultation process, suggesting collaboration between parents, young people, tech companies, and government to protect children.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the MP for community engagement and emphasised the importance of listening to voices of young people and families.
Caroline Voaden
Con
North Warwickshire
Question
The Member questioned the sudden urgency from the Prime Minister on this issue, but welcomed the consideration of a harms-based approach. The MP inquired about considering addictiveness as a factor for age restrictions.
Minister reply
The minister ignored the political critique and acknowledged that addiction is an important vector of harm to consider.
Rachel Taylor
Con
North Warwickshire
Question
The Member expressed concern over tech companies allowing sharing and accessing explicit content on their platforms, urging for legislative action.
Minister reply
The minister agreed with the MP's concerns and reiterated the Government's commitment to quick and robust actions.
Jeremy Wright
Con
Kenilworth and Southam
Question
The Member raised concerns about ensuring that legislative bans do not undermine the duty of care required by the Online Safety Act.
Minister reply
The minister assured the MP that the Government is mindful to ensure no levelling down of child safety duties under the OSA.
Melanie Ward
Lab
Barnsley East
Question
The Member tested Instagram’s claim about age-appropriate content by setting up a teen account and found antisemitic conspiracy theories quickly, questioning whether to rely on companies’ efforts or enforce through regulation.
Minister reply
The minister agreed that regulation should be enforced more strongly against tech companies.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
While welcoming the Government’s action, Christine Jardine points out that parents in Edinburgh are concerned about their children being harmed by tech companies rather than regulating themselves. She argues for legislative intervention instead of self-regulation and draws parallels with the Leveson inquiry into press regulation.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan acknowledges the scale of harm experienced by young people and families in Scotland, emphasising robust action based on consultation findings. He commits to preparing legislation while securing major changes.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading East
Question
Matt Rodda welcomes the Government’s decisive action but urges the Minister to continue engaging with parents and families, especially bereaved ones, and look at examples like Australia for more effective measures.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan highlights the importance of long-term norms and family engagement, paying tribute to Matt Rodda's work with bereaved families.
Maldon
Question
John Whittingdale questions why legislation is needed when social media companies already have age requirements that they do not enforce properly.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan agrees that enforcement of existing age limits is lacking and supports Ofcom's robust action to ensure compliance.
Question
Julie Minns, citing her experience in protecting minors from age-inappropriate content over two decades ago, asks if the technology for age verification now exists.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan confirms that the technology is now robust enough to verify the age threshold of 18 and plans to extend this verification.
Suella Fernandes
Con
Fareham
Question
Suella Fernandes expresses concern that Government’s plans might worsen online security, potentially leading to state-mandated surveillance. She suggests using existing parental control software instead.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan dismisses the accusation as a mischaracterisation and stresses backing parents against platforms.
Question
Naushabah Khan questions whether legislation is being considered to ensure all platforms meet standards and future-proof against new ones.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan acknowledges scepticism and confirms that law is being prepared in parallel with actions to secure young people’s futures.
Question
Alicia Kearns seeks clarification on the nature of technology preventing photo-taking versus scanning devices for content control, also asking about YouTube Kids’ exclusion from action.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan explains that classifiers prevent photos at their point of taking and declines to comment on briefings.
Question
Laura Kyrke-Smith, after speaking with young people in Aylesbury about traumatic online content, asks if the tech companies can be trusted with children's safety.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan agrees that tech companies cannot be trusted and commits to robustly ending the experiment of allowing unregulated access.
Question
Vikki Slade welcomes proposals but is concerned they may only cover nudity, not self-harm or extreme violence.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan assures that such content is already a priority offence under the Online Safety Act and commits to further work with Vikki Slade.
Question
Tom Collins welcomes the Government’s position on safety but argues for creating a 'pull' for innovation in digital safety similar to product safety laws.
Minister reply
Kanishka Narayan agrees that safety by design is crucial and looks forward to engaging with Tom Collins to drive such change.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
As long as children are given access to social media, it is difficult to prevent them from seeing harmful content. Given the Minister's assurances of taking action against extreme content, can he explain what sanctions will be available to punish non-compliant social media companies?
Minister reply
The existing legislation allows for significant fines; over 100 investigations have been conducted and millions of pounds in fines levied on companies for failing to act. The Government aims to ensure robust enforcement mechanisms under any new regime.
Question
Following engagement with parents, teachers, and young people in Dartford, there is consensus that age restrictions on social media access, a digital age of consent for data access, and more guidance for families from trusted sources are vital. Does the Minister agree?
Minister reply
The Government agrees on the importance of these areas to restore agency for parents and young people over online platforms.
Question
Live streaming and protection from predators on social media are serious concerns. Will livestreaming and protecting children from such risks fall under the Government's forthcoming response?
Minister reply
The Government recognises the importance of regulating functionalities like livestreaming, which international criminal networks use for child sexual abuse.
Question
Children in Darlington find parental controls easy to bypass. How will the Government safeguard new settings on devices to prevent children from toggling them off?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the issue and emphasises that age assurance at device level has been effective in some cases, and technology is also being developed to better understand and block nudity.
Gavin Williamson
Con
South Staffordshire
Question
Will the Minister commit to coming to the House when guidance on addressing social media risks for children is ready?
Minister reply
The Government will ensure full scope for engagement in the Chamber on these issues, including a vote on substantive changes.
Question
Given the actions of tech companies like Meta against whistleblowers, what does the Minister know about addressing online harms through action rather than legislation?
Minister reply
The Government relies on direct engagement with whistleblowers and has already secured significant changes in age assurance at device level.
Question
With tech companies playing a long game, how can we prevent constant backsliding after initial compliance? Could legislation allow class actions for children damaged by this content?
Minister reply
The Government is preparing legislative options to achieve substantive change quickly if necessary.
Question
After a consultation with young people and teachers in Staffordshire, what further steps are being considered to regulate tech companies for significant protection of young people?
Minister reply
The Government aims to ensure offline opportunities complement online regulation to support the full range of experiences for young people.
Question
Given growing concerns about social media harms, will the Minister bring forward legislation for an outright ban on social media for under-16s?
Minister reply
The Government is considering robust age assurance mechanisms and other implementation questions to ensure young people are safe online.
Question
What steps will the Government take to hold tech companies accountable for health misinformation and disinformation on social media?
Minister reply
Regulated health advice should be provided only by regulated individuals, and platforms need to ensure compliance with this.
Question
Following a roundtable discussion in Waveney Valley, how will the Government regulate tech companies effectively so that only age-appropriate content can be accessed?
Minister reply
The Government aims to restore control over online platforms to families rather than tech bosses through robust regulation.
Jonathan Davies
Lab
Montgomeryshire
Question
Parents, teachers and young people in Mid Derbyshire have spoken to me extensively about the harm that young people are receiving from social media and smartphones, but it is worth noting that many young people get their legitimate news content online. They also have a lot of access to educational material on places such as YouTube, and we have to be careful not to push young people towards more harmful places on the internet through legislation. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that young people can still get their legitimate news online?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point. On all my travels across the country, I have tried to be active on social media, but the only content that young people report having seen is on “Newsround”. Public broadcasts of appropriate, high-quality news and educational experiences can be delivered in innovative ways in schools, as well as online. This Government will make sure that young people are kept informed and are in receipt of educational experiences.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
This country is in danger of losing a generation of young people to the bad and malign influences of big tech. Big tech can be a force for good, but are this Government not completely embedded with big tech, as the last Government were? Big tech is often more powerful and has bigger budgets than many Governments, and some of the big tech owners do not believe in democracy; they believe that democracy is bust and want to undo it. There is an inherent conflict of interests between the Government’s position and big tech’s influence and embeddedness in all Government Departments.
Minister reply
The right hon. Member makes an incredibly important point. First, of course we will act, including in law, to make sure that we are focused on outcomes for young people and families. Secondly, and critically, the conversations I have had across the country reflect a deep understanding that we need robust action in the short term, but in the long term Britain will shape technology, rather than being shaped by it, if we build British capability.
Johanna Baxter
Lab
Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
Question
I thank my hon. Friend for his response to the urgent question. I am very grateful that the Government are taking action on this vital issue, but we all know that the pace of change in technology is terrifying. Will he set out how the discussions with technology companies and online safety experts have focused on ensuring that device-level controls are not only effective and easy for families to use, but adaptable to emerging online risks?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes the incredibly important point that the speed of technology needs to be reflected in the speed of democracy. That is why we have moved so fast in engaging the country, getting a set of actions ready and acting imminently. On device-level changes, although we were one of the first countries in the world to secure major changes to an operating system earlier this year, she is totally right that we must look not just at where the technology is now but at where the harms may go.
Ann Davies
Lab
Question
I welcome the Minister’s announcement about blocking explicit images on children’s phones, but this should really have come much sooner. I totally agree with the hon. Member for Twickenham (Munira Wilson) that action needs to be taken now, not in three months’ time. What exactly will be measured at the end of that period, and what counts as failure?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member for her question. Let me give a very clear sense of that outcome and how we will measure it. Currently, 91% of the images used in child sexual abuse interactions are self-generated. To me, that is the central focus for what this Government are doing. We have already made a significant difference, as I have said, in ensuring that our robust engagement delivered a pioneering change to a major operating system.
Chris Webb
Con
Blackpool North and Cleveleys
Question
There is growing evidence of a link between smartphone overuse and symptoms of depression and anxiety and reduced student performance, and areas such as Blackpool are seeing double the national average of young people self-harming. What steps will my hon. Friend take to ensure that device-level controls are effective and easy to use for parents who may not be tech savvy?
Minister reply
A fundamental principle behind both the changes announced today and those we are considering as a result of the consultation is simplicity. Parents across the country tell me that they are working incredibly hard to try to keep up with the technology, but the technology continues to make it more difficult rather than easier for them to exercise control.
Lincoln Jopp
Lab
Barnsley East
Question
Why is the Minister answering an urgent question rather than bringing forward a Government statement?
Minister reply
I understand that Home Office Ministers made a statement at oral questions. I am happy to answer any further questions from Members of the House.
Josh Dean
Lab
Lewisham East
Question
The vast majority of Members in this place had the benefit of growing up in a world without social media, and with social media, but today’s young people have not had that benefit. They have grown up with their lives intimately intertwined with the digital world, and in lockdown they were pushed even deeper online without being given a say. Whatever we do next, we must bring young people with us.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend has been one of the most vocal Members on this question, particularly on engaging with young people. There are two things on my mind. First, there is the trust that I have felt in engaging with young people in every nation and region of our country on these questions.
Monica Harding
Lab
Hastings and Rye
Question
At the G7 Digital Ministers meeting, it was reported that the US and the UK watered down stronger protections for children presented by France. My constituents, as evidenced by more than 2,000 emails I have received on online harms, want stronger protections.
Minister reply
I will not be commenting on leaked briefings, but I will say two things. First, in my engagement, even in Australia, civil society has said that the United Kingdom has been the first country in the world to pioneer the changes to operating systems that are securing young people’s future.
South Antrim
Question
Tech giants have had the digital level controls capability to stop children taking, sharing or viewing naked images on their devices, but have failed to do so. I have very little confidence that they will suddenly have an epiphany and do the right thing without the necessary pressure, enforcement and consequences.
Minister reply
I share my hon. Friend’s starting position of scepticism. Robust action will be achieved by ensuring that the outcome is a significant reduction in child sexual abuse material propagated through the mechanisms described. In the absence of that happening within weeks, we are preparing law in parallel to ensure that such action is not deferred.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
Regardless of what has provoked this change of heart, we can all welcome the Government now recognising the harms caused to children and families by social media. The evidence is very clear.
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his point. When I visited young people in Glengormley in Northern Ireland, they told me that it was the first time they had been engaged on this question so systematically; and yes, they wanted robust action, but action that worked in the real world—they use different apps as well as virtual private networks.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Question
Thanked the Minister for his statement, acknowledging that change is coming and welcomed by parents in Edinburgh South West. Asked about work with charities like Lucy Faithfull Foundation and emphasised the need to engage young people, schools, and charities in communicating changes. Inquired about timeline if voluntary ban fails.
Minister reply
Acknowledged importance of engaging young people and families alongside civil society for achieving change on social media norms. Ensured that civil society charities will be engaged not just on decision but also on its communication.
Shockat Adam
Lab
Question
Referring to his entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a practising optometrist, highlighted the crisis of myopia among UK children exacerbated by increased screen time during covid. Noted that nearly one in three UK children are now short-sighted and raised concerns about potential retinal conditions and sight loss due to excessive screentime.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of considering the impact of screentime on children’s eye health when developing digital policies.
Harlow
Question
Thanked Minister for response to urgent question and echoed points made by Father of the House regarding holding social media companies accountable. Commented on extensive consultation with parents, teachers, and young people in Harlow constituency. Agreed that social media ban will only be effective if technology does not allow circumvention of age-verification tools.
Minister reply
Acknowledged compliments from MP and confirmed imminent visit to Harlow. Emphasised the importance of understanding how age-verification technology works to ensure robust implementation of platform bans or limitations.
Shadow Comment
Munira Wilson
Shadow Comment
The shadow criticises the Government’s late action on children's digital safety, driven by political pressure rather than genuine concern. The approach is seen as weak with a call to bring forward legislation instead of begging tech companies for cooperation. The Liberal Democrats welcome reports of broader proposals but urge Ministers to act decisively and protect children from harmful online content through an age-rating system. The shadow emphasises the need for action in memory of children harmed by digital threats.
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