Celebrating Government action to tackle youth online harm

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

WEDESDAY 21^st JANUARY 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Following campaigning by MPs including Hitchin’s Alistair Strathern, the Government has set out further action to improve the relationship of children and young people with mobile phones and social media.

The government will bring forward a rapid three-month consultation on additional measures to keep children safe online. This will include consideration of options such as restricting access to social media for children under 16, raising the digital age of consent, and addressing features that can encourage excessive or compulsive use.

Alongside the consultation, immediate steps will be taken in schools. Ofsted inspectors will check that mobile phone policies are in place and effectively enforced at every inspection, supported by clearer national guidance making it explicit that schools should be phone-free environments by default. Schools that need support will be able to draw on expertise from Attendance and Behaviour Hub schools already implementing these policies successfully.

Parents will also be supported with new, evidence-based guidance on screen time for children aged 5 to 16, complementing guidance for under-fives due later this year which was announced last week.

As a former teacher and children’s services lead at a council, Strathern has championed stronger children’s wellbeing action since being elected. He has supported Smartphone Free Childhood campaigns locally, given multiple speeches on the Online Safety Act in Parliament and worked closely with Ofcom to tighten their guidance.

He is holding a forum in Hitchin on screen time on Feb 20^th. Anyone can sign up to come along, here.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“Through correspondence, visits, workshops and conversations out and about across Hitchin, I’ve heard from over a thousand people, parents, teachers and health professionals in our constituency about the harms of unchecked social media use and screen time.

“There is a clear consensus that social media has damaged our young people’s wellbeing.

“Since being elected, I’ve been clear that we need stronger laws to deliver online safety.

“Building on the world-leading Online Safety Act, the government’s announcement and consultation seeks to give children and young people the freedom to learn, play and grow without constant digital pressure.

“I am holding a forum on screen time next month in Hitchin to promote the consultation, ask for feedback and to understand what parents believe needs to happen next.”

Notes for Editors

Before Christmas, Strathern took part in a debate on social media and smartphones at Hitchin Boys School. You can see several images from the event attached.