The TV series sparked a national debate about the impact of toxic online content on young people's mental health and what can prevent it.
The drama prompted words of concern from ministers, yet, just a week earlier, the government had shelved a private member's bill that included new safeguards to protect children from such malicious content (Analysis). The bill, tabled by Labour MP Josh MacAlister, would have banned smartphones from schools and raised the digital age of responsibility from 13 to 16 – in effect preventing social media companies harvesting data from anyone under that age. Unlike in Australia, which has introduced legislation to ban social media for under-16s, ministers here pledged to act at a later date.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
