This week is Children’s Mental Health Week. Over my 22 years working in the NHS’s mental
health services, I saw increased rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm. Many of these
cases were undoubtedly linked to overexposure to social media from a very young age.
This is why I welcomed the Government’s announcement of a consultation on the matter.
It is vital that we get this process and outcome right to ensure that young people are
protected from the potential harm that social media can cause — this includes
multinational tech companies keeping to their responsibilities and us as legislators putting
the correct measures in place.

I have been campaigning to bring in measures to increase protections for children since I
was elected to Parliament, and I have increased my efforts — along with many of my
colleagues on the Labour backbenches. I recently joined 60 other Labour MPs in signing a
letter to the Prime Minister calling for increased protections for under-16s when using
social media, and I was pleased to hear the Government announce the public consultation
into what steps could be taken.

It is crucial that we use this opportunity to begin a nationwide conversation on the
potential risks of social media for young people which puts their voice at the centre of the
dialogue. They have grown up using this technology and understand both the benefits and
risks it can bring, often far better than many legislators. Many young people whom I speak
to are heavily in favour of greater protections for under-16s because they understand its
potential dangers.

Last year, I went to see a performance of the incredibly powerful verbatim play, Generation
FOMO, put on by Portrait Theatre — highlighting the detrimental effects of the overuse of
social media on young people’s mental health. After seeing the play locally, I decided to
bring it to Westminster for other MPs to watch first-hand. Following the performance in
Parliament, I wrote to the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, and the Science and
Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, to inform them of the play’s message and of some of the
great work being done across Ashford.

Although much of the conversation nationally has been centred around legislation passed
in Australia, there have been great examples in Ashford where schools have taken the
initiative and put in place greater protections for young people. The John Wallis Academy,
for example, has created a no-smartphone policy. I have regularly spoken with their school
principal about this idea and have been very impressed with the effect it has had on
children’s ability to concentrate, learn, and socialise within school hours. The work carried
out by the John Wallis Academy is something I have advocated for with Ministers from the
Department for Education and would like to see introduced in other schools if it is feasible.
If we genuinely want to prevent a sizeable number of mental health conditions amongst
young people, we must put in place adequate protections to guard against the harms
social media can pose.