Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Child Protection Online

Wednesday 20 May 2026 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Michelle Welsh asked the Secretary of State to take urgent steps to protect children online from harmful content and to ensure that social media companies prioritize protection over profit.
  • Douglas McAllister requested the Secretary of State to reassure the House that the Government's consultation on banning social media for under-16s will lead to decisive and effective action.
  • Mark Pritchard questioned whether the Government's relationship with big tech companies prevents it from taking necessary tough actions to protect children and the vulnerable.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michelle Welsh Lab Sherwood Forest
Culture, Media & Sport
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.

Question

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.

Answer from Liz Kendall

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.

Answered
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Q2 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Culture, Media & Sport
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Liz Kendall

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: 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.

How: Under Review

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Q3 Michelle Welsh Lab Sherwood Forest
Culture, Media & Sport
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Liz Kendall

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.

Answered
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Q4 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Science & Technology Business & Trade Standards & Ethics
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Liz Kendall

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.

Not addressed: Conflict of interest between government and big tech companies, tax avoidance by big tech companies

How: Watch This Space, We Are Shaping Technology [K So It Works For All

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Q5 Monica Harding Lib Dem Esher and Walton
Culture, Media & Sport
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Liz Kendall

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Adopting the safety by design code

How: We Have Already Made Requirements In Law

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Q6 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Engagement-driven digital advertising is accused of incentivising harmful platform practices such as misinformation and clickbait.

Question

Will the Secretary of State take steps to regulate digital advertising, as the Committee called for in its report published almost a year ago?

Answer from Liz Kendall

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Immediate steps to regulate digital advertising based on committee recommendations

How: Chairing A Taskforce, Looking At These Issues

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Q7 Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Liz Kendall

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.

Answered
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Q8 Ben Spencer Con Runnymede and Weybridge
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Liz Kendall

No.

Not addressed: the Secretary of State's regret over the timing of the social media ban

How: Short And Non-Committal Answer

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