Bill preventing children from ‘doom scrolling’ to get govt backing – but plan watered down
A Labour MP’s bill to prevent children from “doom scrolling” on social media is expected to get government backing today, after its proposals were watered down.
Josh MacAlister, a former teacher, has been campaigning for tighter limits on younger teenagers spending hours a week on apps such as TikTok and Snapchat.
He told Sky News that today’s bill, which will be debated by MPs, was a “meaningful first step” towards making children safer online and hoped it would be “just the start” of government action on the issue.
The MP had originally called for a smartphone ban in schools, tougher action by Ofcom and raising the “digital age of consent” at which children can use most social media to 16.
But in the face of ministerial opposition, his bill now just calls for chief medical officers to review the evidence on screen-based harms – which was last looked at in 2019 – within a year.
File pic: PA
When that review is complete, the government must decide whether there is a case to raise the age at which children can use social media from the current age of 13.
Mr MacAlister said: “We’ve managed to persuade lots of MPs and make a big noise about this issue, which is that for too many children, smartphones and social media are really addictive and taking a lot of their time and attention.
“That issue for too long hasn’t been debated in parliament. My private members’ bill will get the government to come back within a year on the question of raising the age of digital consent, and that would be a really important step forward in this campaign to make sure that parliament takes these issues seriously.
“We chose 13 a long, long time ago. Is that right? You know, in Norway it’s 15. In France it’s 15. I’m asking them to consider, ‘should we be setting it at a higher age?’
“Different countries are trying different things out, but they all start with the same common problem, which is kids spending lots of time online that they used to spend in real life outdoors, doing things with their friends.”
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From December: Government cracks down on social media
Charities urge minister to back bill
Asked if he was disappointed that ministers had not been willing to go further, he said: “This is just the start. If you look back at previous debates about smoking or car seatbelts, often it was dozens of pieces of legislation that led to the conclusion.”
Mr MacAlister, the MP for Whitehaven and Workington, will tell MPs that changing the age at which a child can consent for their data to be shared online to 16 would give parents more control, and force platforms to enforce more rigorous age verification.
A minister will respond to the plans, which have attracted cross-party support. It’s expected that the government will agree to take the proposals further.
Ten children’s charities, including Barnardo’s and the NSPCC, have written to Peter Kyle urging him to support the bill, saying that the online world poses “significant risks to children” and that “current legislation does not go far enough” in restricting screen time.
Read more:
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It’s understood that the tech secretary wanted to make sure the Online Safety Act, which was passed by MPs in 2023 and is being implemented in stages this year, is completed first. It intends to protect young people from illegal and harmful content.
The government has opposed a smartphone ban in schools, saying this should be up to headteachers.
Today, the most extensive polling of young people aged 16-24 shows that 62% of this age group say social media does more harm than good, both men and women.
Only 22% of the 2,000 young adults polled by the company More in Common think it does more good than harm.
Four in five of this age group also say they would try to keep their own children off social media for as long as possible.
Half of this generation, who grew up with smartphones, agree they spent too much time on their phones and social media during childhood.
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‘This isn’t just parents’
Anna McShane, director of The New Britain Project, which commissioned the polling, said: “This isn’t just parents worrying about their kids, young people themselves are saying social media has become more addictive, more negative, and more harmful.
“They’ve grown up with it, and now they’re warning us about its dangers.”
A Department for Technology spokesperson added: “We are committed to keeping young people safe online whilst also ensuring they can benefit from the latest technology.
“By the summer, robust new protections for children will be in force through the Online Safety Act to protect them from harmful content and ensure they have an age-appropriate experience online.
“The government’s response to the private members’ bill will follow during second reading of the bill, as per parliamentary process.”
Politics
Labour deputy leadership candidate accuses opponent’s team of ‘throwing mud’ and briefing against her
Lucy Powell has accused Bridget Phillipson’s team of “throwing mud” and briefing against her in the Labour deputy leadership race in a special episode of Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast.
With just days to go until the race is decided, Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby spoke to the two leadership rivals about allegations of leaks, questions of party unity and their political vision.
Ms Powell told Electoral Dysfunction that through the course of the contest, she had “never leaked or briefed”.
But she said of negative stories about her in the media: “I think some of these things have also come from my opponent’s team as well. And I think they need calling out.
“We are two strong women standing in this contest. We’ve both got different things to bring to the job. I’m not going to get into the business of smearing and briefing against Bridget.
“Having us airing our dirty washing, throwing mud – both in this campaign or indeed after this if I get elected as deputy leader – that is not the game that I’m in.”
Ms Powell was responding to a “Labour source” who told the New Statesman last week: “Lucy was sacked from cabinet because she couldn’t be trusted not to brief or leak.”
Ms Powell said she had spoken directly to Ms Phillipson about allegations of briefings “a little bit”.
Bridget Phillipson (l) and Lucy Powell (r) spoke to Sky News’ Beth Rigby in a special Electoral Dysfunction double-header. Pics: Reuters
Phillipson denies leaks
But asked separately if her team had briefed against Ms Powell, Ms Phillipson told Rigby: “Not to my knowledge.”
And Ms Phillipson said she had not spoken “directly” to her opponent about the claims of negative briefings, despite Ms Powell saying the pair had talked about it.
“I don’t know if there’s been any discussion between the teams,” she added.
On the race itself, the education secretary said it would be “destabilising” if Ms Powell is elected, as she is no longer in the cabinet.
“I think there is a risk that comes of airing too much disagreement in public at a time when we need to focus on taking the fight to our opponents.
“I know Lucy would reject that, but I think that is for me a key choice that members are facing.”
She added: “It’s about the principle of having that rule outside of government that risks being the problem. I think I’ll be able to get more done in government.”
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Insider vs outsider
But Ms Powell, who was recently sacked by Sir Keir Starmer as leader of the Commons, said she could “provide a stronger, more independent voice”.
“The party is withering on the vine at the same time, and people have got big jobs in government to do.
“Politics is moving really, really fast. Government is very, very slow. And I think having a full-time political deputy leader right now is the political injection we need.”
The result of the contest will be announced on Saturday 25 October.
The deputy leader has the potential to be a powerful and influential figure as the link between members and the parliamentary Labour Party, and will have a key role in election campaigns. They can’t be sacked by Sir Keir as they have their own mandate.
The contest was triggered by the resignation of Angela Rayner following a row over her tax affairs. She was also the deputy prime minister but this position was filled by David Lammy in a wider cabinet reshuffle.
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Politics
‘Additional resources’ offered by govt to reverse ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Villa game
The government says it is exploring what “additional resources and support are required” to allow “all fans” to attend Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match against Aston Villa next month.
Supporters of the Israeli side have been told they are not allowed to attend November’s game in Birmingham after a decision by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG).
The group – made up of local stakeholders, including representatives from the council, police and event organisers – said the decision was due to a high risk of violence based on “current intelligence and previous incidents”.
Politics live: MPs react to Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban
The decision has been criticised across the political spectrum, with Sir Keir Starmer describing it as a “wrong decision” while Tory opposition leader Kemi Badenoch called it a “national disgrace”.
In a statement on Friday night, a government spokesperson said: “No one should be stopped from watching a football game simply because of who they are.
“The government is working with policing and other partners to do everything in our power to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present.
“We are exploring what additional resources and support are required so all fans can attend.”
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Birmingham residents react to the Maccabi fan ban
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Antisemitism is a stain on our society that shames us all. Every football fan, whoever they are, should be able to watch their team in safety.
“This government is doing everything in our power to ensure all fans can safely attend the game.”
The prime minister’s spokesman previously said Sir Keir would “do everything in his power to give Jewish communities the security they deserve”.
Read more:
Why are fans banned – and has this happened before?
How this raises questions about one of the UK’s biggest cities
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Badenoch: Fan ban a ‘national disgrace’
The Home Office offered to provide more police for the event, while Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Communities Secretary Steve Reed also intervened.
However, senior police insisted the ban was necessary and cited clashes and hate crime offences committed when the Israeli team travelled to Amsterdam to play Ajax last year.
The Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match – set to take place on Thursday 6 November – is a Europa League fixture.
UEFA, which runs the tournament, had urged UK authorities to ensure away fans could attend.
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