Emma Lewell MP: Technology moves fast, we need to act fast to protect our children
It is extremely worrying seeing children ‘glued’ to their mobile phones, uncommunicative, being exposed to harmful material and lies – their young minds being cut off from the real world.
This relentless exposure to an artificial world is deeply detrimental to their social development, self-esteem, wellbeing and mental health. It is impacting on their fundamental skills and ability to interact with others.
At the extreme, children are being exposed to highly inappropriate material and bullying online. Gone are the days when, if you were being bullied in school, you could escape it at home. With mobile devices, it is constant and all consuming. There is no escape. I know adults who find online hate and exposure to harmful images distressing, so no wonder it has had drastic consequences for our children, when they are still in their formative years.
Technology is moving fast, so we need to act fast to make sure children are protected. The Government has announced a consultation to seek views on how to improve children’s relationships with mobile phones and social media – including banning access to social media for children under 16 years old. After Government-led consultations, legislation and action follows.
But – Parliamentary processes are too slow. By the time new legislation is debated and put in place, technology has moved on. So, this week, the Government has made a commitment that they will accelerate some protections in a matter of months. This is the right thing to do.
There was, rightly, widespread disgust over vile illegal content created by AI. The Government will act swiftly to close loopholes and to force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act – or face the consequences of breaking the law.
We called out abhorrent non-consensual intimate images being shared on Grok, which led to the function being removed.
We will also strengthen protections for families facing the most devastating losses by ensuring that vital social media data of their deceased children is preserved before it can be deleted. This is a direct request from bereaved parents.
I am pleased that this Labour Government is taking urgent action to protect children from online harms.