Gill German MP has welcomed the UK Government taking much needed action to strengthen protections for children online, including plans to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s, while stressing the importance of ensuring young people can still safely benefit from the digital world.
The Government’s proposals would mean that children under 16 will no longer be able to access social media platforms. In addition, features that enable communication with strangers, such as live streaming, will be switched off, with similar restrictions automatically applying to 17-year-olds. Further measures under consideration include overnight curfews and limits on features such as infinite scrolling, with full details expected in July.
Alongside these measures, tech companies have been given a strict three-month ultimatum to introduce stronger device-level safety protections. If sufficient progress is not made, the Government has indicated it is prepared to bring forward legislation – signalling a major shift in how children’s online safety is enforced, with both platforms and personal devices expected to play a role.
Over the past year, Gill German MP has engaged extensively with secondary schools and colleges across Clwyd North through a series of online safety forums and a local survey exploring how young people experience the online world.
The findings highlighted both serious concerns and clear priorities. Many pupils reported exposure to harmful or inappropriate content, with over half saying it had a negative impact. Issues such as anxiety, high screen time, weak moderation, and limited awareness of safety tools were widely raised. While there was strong support for tougher protections and greater accountability from tech companies, most pupils emphasised better digital literacy for both young people and adults, improved reporting systems, and more effective safeguards – highlighting the need to go further on education, digital literacy, and platform responsibility alongside Government action.
The feedback gathered has been shared directly with the Technology Secretary and the Online Safety Minister to ensure local perspectives are reflected in this national discussion.
Gill German MP said:
“I welcome the Government taking action to better protect children online. Young people, parents, and schools have all been clear in my conversations locally that more needs to be done to address harmful content and reduce the risks associated with social media.”
“From my conversations locally, it’s clear that while there is real concern about the impact of social media, there is also a strong desire to get the balance right. Many young people recognise both the risks and the benefits of being online.”
“That is why, alongside stronger protections, we must ensure we are not simply closing the door on young people’s digital lives. The internet can be a positive place for learning, creativity and staying connected, and we should be working to make these spaces safer by design.”
The Government has made clear that children will still be able to access the online world for education, news, gaming and keeping in touch with friends and family through messaging services, which are not included in the ban.
Gill German MP added:
“While this announcement signals clear progress, it does not remove the risks that children face online altogether. A ban on social media for under-16s is not a complete solution.
From my discussions with young people, it’s clear many feel parents and guardians are not fully equipped to guide them online. Addressing this gap is essential. Government has a responsibility to ensure parents have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to help children navigate online risks.
We have had requirements in place for several years for platforms to use highly effective age assurance systems, yet too often these have fallen short in practice. As these new measures are introduced, the next step must be to clearly define what ‘effective’ looks like, ensure it is consistently enforced, and hold companies accountable where they fall short.”
