Gill German MP has been leading an online safety campaign across Clywd North, determined to ensure young people’s voices in North Wales are heard clearly during the debate on children’s online safety and social media regulation. As part of this, she held two forums with Year 10 and 12 pupils in November last year to inform a survey sent out to pupils across the constituency, followed by a results forum this March.
The survey, released in January, posed several questions to Year 10s and 12s covering a wide range of concerns, including about social media usage, the effectiveness of a blanket ban, and mis and disinformation. The survey was completed by over 300 pupils, whose answers were used to inform a final results forum. Attended by a dozen pupils from across the various schools, Gill gathered feedback from students on how to refine potential solutions to the risks on online harms, which will be used inform the development of a targeted action plan.
During these forums and in conversations with young people across Clwyd North, concerns over misinformation, AI-generated content, cyberbullying, and the impact of addictive platform designs were consistently raised. Importantly, many students who attended the forums had an exceptionally negative view of an outright social media ban, though supported alternative measures such as stronger safeguards and regulation by the platforms themselves and providing more support to parents or carers to help young people navigate the online world.
Gill German is one of several MPs conducting a similar campaign across the UK, but as the only member from Wales, seeks to highlight Welsh perspectives on these important issues.
Speaking on the issue, Gill said:
“These discussions not only allow for voices from Clwyd North to be heard on a national level, but it puts children and young people at the heart of the debate.
As a mother of two children myself, I know all too well the dangers children can encounter online, and how overwhelming it can be for parents to navigate these increasingly complex updates. That is why it is essential to engage young people in discussions to ensure future action around online safety is effective, proactive and with the best interests of our children at the centre.”
Gill German MP has warmly welcomed the Government’s decision to launch a three-month consultation on children’s use of social media earlier this year, which considers measures such as a ban for children under a certain age and restrictions on addictive design features like ‘infinite scrolling’ and ‘streaks’.
The consultation has now opened to the public for responses until 26 May 2026. Various measures to strengthen children’s safety and wellbeing online will be addressed, including:
- The effectiveness of mandatory overnight curfews;
- Whether the digital age of consent should be raised; and
- Better support and guidance for parents
The consultation welcomes responses from a wide range of people and involves three separate surveys – one for everyone, one for parents and carers of young people aged 21 and under and one for children and young people aged 10 to 21. This breadth aims to ensure that all voices, particularly those of children and young people so vital to informing any new laws, directly impact the consultation and actively shape its results.
Gill German has encouraged anyone with an interest to share their views through the surveys online, accessible through this link: Growing up in the online world: a national consultation – GOV.UK.
Alongside the consultation, social media bans, digital curfews, and time limits on apps will be piloted in the homes of 300 teenagers for 6 weeks – a first of its kind trial by the Government. The evidence from both the consultation and trial will inform the findings of the consultation set to be published this summer.
