Government agrees online harm should be public health issue

Online harm caused by children’s screen use should be treated as a safeguarding and public health issue, the Government has said.

(c) Duc Van/Unsplash

(c) Duc Van/Unsplash

The comments came in the Governments' response to the Education Committee's report on the Government's social media consultation.

Chair of the Education Committee, Helen Hayes, said: ‘I am pleased that the Government has taken our recommendations on board. I believe that the evidence we heard helped to strengthen the case for the important restrictions the Government has now announced.'

The Government announced a social media ban for under 16s in June by 2027 in line with the committee's recommendations.

This week, the Government also announced new plans to require technology companies to introduce device-level protections for children. 

In the response published today, the Government says it intends to lay regulations before the end of 2026 and agrees with the committee ‘that it is the responsibility of technology companies to make their products safe for their users, including children'.

The Government also agrees with the committee's recommendation to develop national guidance for parents and carers on children's social media use.

In addition, the Government pledges to:

  • review and update, if necessary, mobile phone guidance for schools by September 2027
  • strengthen media literacy through the curriculum review, with changes to how it is taught in English and citizenship
  • Ofcom will publish a report on children's use of app stores by January 2027.

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