Unfortunately, I wasn’t selected to speak today on the Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill. This is what I would have said:
Introduction
Thank you Mr Speaker / Madam Deputy Speaker.
It is a pleasure to rise today in full support of the Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill. I’d like to thank my Honourable Friend, the Member for Whitehaven and Workington, who has campaigned on this issue very effectively and created a genuine sense of momentum which I hope will ultimately result in clear and decisive legislative action being brought forwards.
Rushcliffe Engagement
Like several Members, I am delighted to say that two of my constituents, who have taken a very keen interest in this debate, are watching us from the gallery today. To both of them and to everybody else who contacted me, thank you for your positive engagement on this matter and for encouraging me to think deeply about the importance of legislating in this area as soon as possible.
In response to the local interest, I have both sent messages to a parent roundtable discussion on this matter, and conducted a roundtable discussion myself with a mixture of parents and teachers from across my Rushcliffe constituency. Irrespective of the outcome of this Bill, they are very keen to work cooperatively locally to try and develop a smartphone-free trial similar to that already in operation in St Albans. I know there is a long way to go before this would be possible, but I applaud them for this aspiration which, at its heart, is about the welfare of all school-aged children.
Mr Speaker / Madam Deputy Speaker, I’ve also asked students about this Bill when visiting their schools. It is clear that their views are mixed – and for many, they can’t envisage a world without the Internet or access to technology. After all, phones are everywhere. Some 97 per cent of children have a smartphone by the age of 12, according to Ofcom data. One statistic I’ve seen suggests that almost 50% of adolescents report that they are online “almost constantly”. The world has changed remarkably quickly and the Internet is now at the heart of many daily activities. Nonetheless, many students have told me that they find the pressures of social media overwhelming. Some feel like they can never switch off. Others say they are living primarily through a digital lens. Others acknowledge that they feel addicted to their phones. For these groups, the idea of a smartphone-free and better managed online world is an increasingly welcome one.
Mental Health Considerations
Mr Speaker / Madam Deputy Speaker, more than anything, I think this issue has resonated with my constituents because of the mental health crises that we are seeing up and down the country. This is especially acute and profound among young people, and I welcome this government’s very clear commitment to investing in mental health professional in schools and ensuring that the percentage of funding for mental health services matches the scale of the crisis.
The Mental Health Foundation says 20% of adolescents may experience a mental health problem in any given year. Moreover, 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14. 10% of children and young people (aged 5 to 16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental problem, yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. This is why this Bill today is so important. We must treasure our children and take steps to protect them when they may be being harmed.
Mr Speaker / Madam Deputy Speaker, I didn’t grow up as a teenager with a mobile phone permanently attached to my hand, as seems to be the norm today. I was bought a very large Phillips mobile phone by my friends for my 13th birthday and today, it would be described as a “brick”. My school days were spent with limited need to text friends, especially at 12p a time; there was no need to constantly scroll through social media; and the temptation to sneakily play Candy Crush during a lesson was non-existent.
So it can, at times, seem like we’re judging today’s generations by yesterday’s standards and I’m very conscious of this.
But Mr Speaker / Madam Deputy Speaker, the challenges we face in supporting children’s well-being in the digital age are substantial and must, therefore, be taken seriously. Their biological and development welfare must be prioritised to avoid longer-term damage.
The details of Today’s bill
Coming to this Bill, I believe it takes a thoughtful approach and seek to develop a solid evidence base for future action. Indeed, we know that mobile phones and social media can be incredible tools for learning, connection and self-expression. And I know some schools have found ways of successfully incorporating them into teaching. However, the reality is that they can also pose significant challenges to children’s mental health, social development and online safety. This Bill is not about banning smartphones outright at this point; it’s about giving parents, carers and policymakers the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions.
Looking at the Bill in detail, Clause 1 places an important responsibility on the Chief Medical Officers of the United Kingdom. Within 12 months of the Act’s passage, they will be required to publish advice for parents and carers on smartphone and social media use by children. By empowering families with clear guidance, we can help ensure that children’s digital experiences are as positive and age appropriate as possible. Clause 2 is equally significant, mandating the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to publish a plan for research into the impact of social media use on children. This forward-thinking provision recognises that we need robust data to fully understand how social media shapes the lives of young people – and to ensure our policies evolve in response to new evidence.
The Bill also addresses a topic of great importance to many constituents who have written to me: the digital age of consent. Clause 3 requires an assessment of the extent to which children’s online experiences are age appropriate, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current age of consent which is 13. This is a sensitive and complex issue, but I wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity for an informed debate backed by the government’s assessment, which I hope will be initiated and concluded very quickly.
Why Today’s bill matters
One constituent, Nic, shared with me their concerns about today’s debate. They said, “if we let this moment slip away, what message does that send?”
Mr Speaker / Madam Deputy Speaker, Nic’s sentiment should not be forgotten. We must take this opportunity – both today and during the course of this parliament – to make the right choice for young people. The usual platitude that young people ‘are the future’ is true … but they are also the present. We must make sure young people today are given safe opportunities to learn and express themselves, meaning we must better understand the harms that may be caused by this technology.
This Bill provides a framework that is needed to meet modern challenges head-on. By equipping parents and carers with expert guidance, advancing critical research into social media’s effects, and evaluating the suitability of the digital age of consent, we are taking a comprehensive approach to safeguarding the next generation. I am proud to support a government that prioritises the well-being of children and listens to the concerns of parents and educators. Like many today, I am saddened that we are not going further this morning as I believe we must. Indeed, the sentiment of the House is very clear. Nonetheless, the campaigning will continue and, in the meantime, we can take an important step towards creating a safer, healthier and more supportive environment for young people in the digital age. I, therefore, commend this Bill to the House.
