Parents brought together to discuss action on social media

31st March 2026

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Last night, Alistair Strathern MP brought together local parents, psychologists, campaigners, and school staff for a community discussion on upcoming changes to social media restrictions for young people. The conversation follows growing international momentum, like recent action in Australia, to take stronger, evidence‑based steps to protect children online.

Parents described feeling as though they had been “on a runaway train”, with one mother expressing fears that social media was “melting her son’s brain”. Participants spoke about the need to safeguard young people from harm, build a collective voice for action, and establish healthier norms around smartphone use in childhood. Several parents compared the current landscape to “Whac‑A‑Mole”, where new platforms emerge as soon as others are challenged.

The discussion highlighted a strong appetite for better education for both parents and children. This mirrors findings from recent workshops held across five local schools, where young people shared concerns about online pressures, safety, and the impact of algorithms.

Parents also called for greater investment in offline opportunities for children such as improved local parks, more youth‑friendly spaces, and free places for young people to spend time together.

Parents emphasised the need for expert input, urging politicians and specialists to take a more active role in supporting families.

Most parents supported restrictions on apps for younger users, including messaging platforms, and were strongly opposed to algorithmic content being targeted at children. Short‑form, highly addictive content was a particular concern. Time limits were widely encouraged, and while parents supported age verification, they ranged a wide range of options as to the best way of delivering this.

Parents across the constituency are encouraged to take part in the national consultation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation

Alistair Strathern, MP for Hitchin, said:

“I was honoured to hear from so many thoughtful voices, offering insight, lived experience and practical ideas. It’s vital that families are at the heart of shaping how we protect young people online, and that parents feel empowered to enforce these protections.

“Childhood should be about exploring, achieving, and engaging with the world. But all too often when children explore the online world, they’re exposed to harms we simply shouldn’t tolerate.

“From addictive algorithms to exposed to groomers and extreme content, we can do far better at keeping young people safe online and protect their childhood to be exactly that.”  

The Government has introduced comprehensive measures to protect children online through world‑leading AI legislation and is developing a National Youth Strategy to address wider youth service needs. Labour is bringing forward tough new laws to prevent AI‑generated child sexual abuse imagery, with reports more than doubling from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025. The new ten‑year National Youth Strategy will move away from a one‑size‑fits‑all approach, giving young people and communities greater power to shape local services.

Labour is also rolling out Mental Health Support Teams to every school, reaching an additional 900,000 children over the next year, alongside updated RSHE guidance to improve wellbeing, help children navigate the online world, and tackle misogyny.