Sojan Joseph, the MP for Ashford, Hawkinge, and the Villages is urging parents, guardians, and young people to shape the country’s next steps on children’s digital wellbeing, as the UK Government opens the world’s most ambitious consultation.

Mr Joseph, who worked in mental health services for over 20 years before becoming an MP, has been actively campaigning for strengthening safeguards for young people online to protect their mental health and wellbeing.

The consultation will gather insights from the public on how to keep children safe online across social media, AI chatbots and gaming platforms.

The sheer scale of the consultation is world-leading, looking at expansive options not considered by other countries.

This includes considering how measures like curfews could help 16-17 year olds with their wellbeing.

Key questions the consultation will explore some of the most talked-about potential changes, including:
• Whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and if so, what age would be right
• Whether platforms should be required to switch off addictive features that keep children hooked late into the night – like infinite scrolling and autoplay

• Whether mandatory overnight curfews would help children sleep better and what age they should apply to

• Whether children should be able to use AI chatbots without restriction

• How age verification enforcement should be strengthened

• What areas of digital literacy parents and children need extra help with

Sojan Joseph MP for Ashford, Hawkinge, and the Villages said:

“In my previous role working in the NHS, I saw how much of an impact social media and an increased reliance on technology have on young people’s mental health. There was an undeniable link between many cases of anxiety and depression that I saw and increased social media use and screen time.

“This is why, when I became an MP, I felt it was necessary to push for stronger safeguards to protect young people from the potential harm the online world can cause to their mental health and wellbeing.

“I truly welcome the Labour Government acting so decisively and rolling out this landmark consultation. I would urge every parent to contribute and help shape their children’s future.”

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

“The path to a good life is a great childhood, one full of love, learning and play. That applies just as much to the online world as it does to the real one.

“We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.

“This is why we’re asking children and parents to take part in this landmark consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change.

“Together, we will create a digital world that gives young people the childhood they deserve and prepares them for the future.”

The three-month consultation is open to everyone with a view: parents, carers, young

people, those who work with children, civil society organisations, academics, and industry. Dedicated versions have been developed for young people and for parents and carers, making it easier for them to share their experiences and views. These sit alongside the main consultation at gov.uk/growing-up-online.  

The consultation will close on 26 May. Rather than focusing on technical questions about policy mechanisms, it will ask questions about possible solutions and how they work. As well as how we equip children and young people with the skills and confidence to thrive online and what support parents and families would benefit from in navigating their children’s digital wellbeing.

The Government will respond in the summer, acting swiftly on the evidence gathered.