“About time”: Kit calls for big tech accountability in under-16s social media ban
Kit making the case for social media ban enforcement to target big tech, not parents
Responding to the government’s latest U-turn and announcement that under-16s will be banned from social media, Kit said:
“About time. For months, parents, teachers and campaigners have been warning about the damage social media is doing to children. The government has spent much of that time dithering, so I’m pleased it has finally acted.
"In Hampshire, parents have repeatedly talked about children being exposed to harmful content, struggling with anxiety, and finding it harder to switch off from an online world designed to keep them hooked.
"Conservatives do not instinctively reach for bans. We believe in freedom and personal responsibility, but when it comes to children, protection must come first.
"The key now is making sure the responsibility falls where it belongs: on the social media companies, not on parents. Families are already battling over screens every day, and we don’t want to start a thermonuclear war in homes up and down the country.
"Ministers must also ensure these harms do not simply migrate elsewhere, whether into gaming platforms or other online services aimed at young people.
"This is a victory for parents and for children’s safety. But it will only work if big tech is held properly to account.”
The government announcement follows months of campaigning by Conservatives for tougher protections for young people online.
Earlier this year, the government U-turned and accepted Conservative proposals to ban smartphones in schools — a move designed to safeguard children from harmful content and constant distraction in the classroom.