Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Concerns about the impact of harmful content and activities on children's well-being online have prompted this inquiry. The questioner references specific risks including cyber-flashing, self-harm content, and addictive platform design.
If she will take urgent steps to protect children online. Too often, children are exposed to harmful content online, with material promoting pornography and self-harm pushed towards them. Childhood should not be handed over to algorithms. As a mum, I know that parents are terrified that social media companies are putting profit before protection.
Yes, I do agree. We have legislated, and we are prepared to go further. I have already made strangulation and suffocation in porn a priority offence under the Online Safety Act. We are determined to ensure that rules about what happens in online pornography are the same as the rules for what happens offline, and we are coming forward with proposals on that.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Many constituents worry about the harms children face online, including exposure to self-harm content and addictive platform design. This concern has led to a request for reassurance that government actions will be effective and timely.
Can the Secretary of State reassure the House that the Government's consultation on banning social media for under-16s will result in decisive action, and ensure that any measures that are introduced are effective, proportionate and capable of keeping pace with rapidly changing technology?
Yes, that is absolutely my objective. I remind the House that our consultation is looking at not just whether there should be a ban on social media for under-16s but a whole range of other issues, including whether platforms should be required to switch off addictive features, whether there should be mandatory overnight curfews, whether there should be age or other restrictions on artificial intelligence chatbots, how age verification should be strengthened, and how to help children and parents navigate the online world and thrive.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not specify a timeline for decisive action based solely on consultation findings. Instead, it outlined various issues under consideration but did not confirm specific actions or timelines.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
There is ongoing concern about children's exposure to harmful content online, and the questioner highlights specific risks such as pornography and self-harm content. The request includes a call for legislative action against social media companies.
Too often, children are exposed to harmful content online, with material promoting pornography and self-harm pushed towards them. Childhood should not be handed over to algorithms. As a mum, I know that parents are terrified that social media companies are putting profit before protection. Does the Secretary of State agree that not only should social media companies step up, but it is time to legislate to ensure that they take active steps to protect our children online?
Yes, I do agree. We have legislated, and we are prepared to go further. I have already made strangulation and suffocation in porn a priority offence under the Online Safety Act. We are determined to ensure that rules about what happens in online pornography are the same as the rules for what happens offline, and we are coming forward with proposals on that.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Big tech companies are accused of being embedded in Government Departments, avoiding taxes and substantive regulation, leading to a reluctance to take tough actions necessary for child protection.
Is there not a fundamental conflict of interest for this Government and previous Government in that big tech companies are so embedded in Government Departments and agencies that the Government are not prepared to take the tough action necessary to protect children and the most vulnerable? Is it not the case that big tech companies are not paying taxes to this country and are avoiding substantive regulation, and that the Government now believe that big tech is too big to fail?
We have made decisive moves to back more British tech companies because we believe artificial intelligence and technology should benefit everyone in this country. We are shaping powerful technology so it works for all, and there will be more actions coming soon.
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Assessment & feedback
Conflict of interest between government and big tech companies, tax avoidance by big tech companies
Watch This Space
We Are Shaping Technology [K So It Works For All
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
80% of the public want comprehensive laws regulating social media platforms, according to new polling. The Government have not introduced any new online safety legislation.
Will the Secretary of State at least move quickly to adopt the network's safety by design code in order to deliver the comprehensive reforms that the public want?
We have already made it a requirement in law that chatbots must protect users from illegal content, banned nudification apps through a new criminal offence, and required platforms to take down non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours. There is more to do.
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Assessment & feedback
Adopting the safety by design code
We Have Already Made Requirements In Law
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Engagement-driven digital advertising is accused of incentivising harmful platform practices such as misinformation and clickbait.
Will the Secretary of State take steps to regulate digital advertising, as the Committee called for in its report published almost a year ago?
My right hon. Friend is chairing the digital advertising taskforce, which is looking at precisely these issues to ensure that illegal and harmful content is not rewarded.
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Assessment & feedback
Immediate steps to regulate digital advertising based on committee recommendations
Chairing A Taskforce
Looking At These Issue [5D [K Issues
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
Lockhart cited an increase in parents contacting her regarding inappropriate advertisements appearing during children's digital games. The images are disturbing and affecting young minds negatively.
When a child views an inappropriate image online, they cannot unsee it. I have been horrified recently by the number of parents coming to me about inappropriate ads popping up on kids' digital games. Some of the images are horrendous, and children are viewing them at a very early age. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss this ongoing issue?
I or one of my Ministers will meet the hon. Member. She is right to say that once you have seen something, you cannot unsee it. That is especially true for young minds. We all know that young children will wake up in the night and talk to us about things that they remember seeing, but do not understand because they are too young. Either one of my Ministers or I will be more than happy to meet her, see those images for ourselves, and speak to Ofcom and others about what we can do to try to stop that.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Spencer questioned the timing of a social media ban on users under 16, noting that it was not initially committed to or introduced in the King's Speech.
Does the Secretary of State regret having been forced into a ban on social media for under-16s during proceedings on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, rather than having committed to a ban the first place, or introducing a Bill in the King's Speech?
No.
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Assessment & feedback
the Secretary of State's regret over the timing of the social media ban
Short And Non-Committal Answer
Response accuracy