Tell the Government it must deliver on its promise to protect U16s from harmful social media

On 27th April, Government ministers gave a binding commitment to Parliament, and to parents and children across the country, that whatever else the Government may do in response to its consultation, it will definitely introduce age or functionality-based restrictions on social media for under 16s.

We need those ministers to know that there are thousands of parents and children now relying on the Government to keep its promise by taking action specifically against the harmful platform features and functionalities that are damaging the health, education and life chances of millions of children.

Unfortunately, the poor design of the Government’s official consultation portal has meant that many parents and children have not had their voices heard.

So instead of spending hours grappling with the Government’s portal, in just 60 seconds or less you can send a short and clear response to the consultation that will tell the Government in no uncertain terms that parents expect the age of access to harmful social media to be raised to 16.

The Growing Up In The Online World Consultation

cc. Technology Ministers

cc. Education Ministers

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Subject

Please treat this email as my response to your consultation on growing up in the online world. I am responding as an individual.I want to thank the Government for making a binding commitment to Parliament, and to parents and children across the country, that whatever else you may do in response to this consultation, you will now definitely introduce age or functionality based restrictions for under 16s, and that by no later than July you will set out your plan for making this happen.  This is exactly what I would like to see happen, as soon as possible.  It is a relief to know that the Government is willing to stand beside the millions of parents who want to protect their children from daily exploitation by the big tech companies.  Safe design must be the price paid by tech companies to access our children in the online world.Your consultation paper suggests a range of features and functionalities - such as algorithmically-driven content - that social media, gaming and other similar platforms could be prohibited from using in services they offer to our children.  This also includes livestream broadcasts, location sharing, stranger-pairing, disappearing messages, infinite scrolling, autoplay, public tokens of affirmation, alerts and push notifications.I strongly support including them all within scope of the measures that you have committed to introduce.  You should also include penalties for non-engagement, location tracking, and AI features that pose risks of attachment or manipulation for children, as recommended by <a href="https://qrco.de/jointstatement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Joint Statement of Principles for Furthering the Protection of Children Online </a>signed by 41 leading children's organisations including the NSPCC, the Centre for Young Lives and Parentkind, and 27 bereaved parents who have lost children to these platforms.We heard your promise and we expect you to deliver on it, no ifs or buts: raise the age for harmful social media features to 16.

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