Ministers consider tighter controls on social platforms as pressure grows to better protect young users from harmful content online.

 

For the first time in England, the government is to issue guidance on screen use for children aged between five to sixteen. This informative guidance is set to be published later this year with the aim to give parents advice on healthy screen use for their children.

 

At the beginning of the year, the UK government launched a public consultation on banning social media for under 16s; this sparked an interesting debate amongst young people and guardians. Before taking any dramatic interventions, such as bans, the government sought the public’s views on whether platforms should be required to switch off addictive features, whether mandatory oversight curfews would help children sleep better, whether children should be allowed to use AI tools without restrictions and how age verification implementation should be strengthened.

 

Even though the House of Lords has already voted in favour for a full ban for under 16s, several charities and campaign groups argue that the ban would only create a ‘false sense of security’ but instead to create a stronger enforcement of existing child safety rules. It is expected that well known tech companies would closely work with the government in contributing to better child safety online while helping children expressing themselves safely online. On the other hand, Ruth Moss, one of many parents who have lost their children to suicide says social media in highly damaging for young minds and with all the academic research backing it there is no time for talking about it, a ban is needed.

 

According to Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s commissioner for England and Bridget Philipson, Education Secretary, the use of technology for educational purposes can be helpful specially in children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and parents should find the right balance for their children to prevent ‘a loss of childhood and a national crisis’ where children are sleeping less, spending less time outdoors and having concentration issues.

 

In the meantime, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reached out to leading tech companies to implement restrictions for children to receive or see explicit images online. The government is planning to introduce new legislation to enforce these interventions. In a speech at London Tech Week, the prime minister argued that poor child safety should not be the price of modern tech, emphasising how tech should adapt to the needs of society, not the other way round.

 

But, while policies are being revised and implemented, what can we practically do in our homes to protect our children?

 

The internet does not only provide materials and information, but it also shapes tastes.

 

A local church in Modern has shared a parent’s guide on “Riding the Wild West as a Christian”, a practical guide on keeping children safe online, for those who want to protect their children from corrupting influences, but they are unsure where to start. Electronic interconnectivity is an unavoidable part of modern life. Parents may confiscate devices at home but can’t remove them from schools, libraries, cafes etc. Discipleship must go hand in hand with discipline because control on its own does not produce character.

 

This guide strongly encourages parents to establish discipleship with their children, highlighting the destructive framework of today’s culture without buying into its self-centred values. Hence why this guide significantly promotes character development while modelling a Christ like life – from the ability of a teenager to say no to wrong things unaided to installing software filters.