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Mobile Phones and Social Media: Children

Asked by Kerry McCarthyLabourDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 20 November 2025UIN 90677

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to establish a (a) social media curfew and (b) cap on smartphone screen time for children.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan

It is important that children can seize the opportunities that being online offers whilst being safe. The Online Safety Act provides protections for children from illegal and harmful content online


We continue to explore evidence around the impact of social media on children. We will not hesitate to take further action to protect children from online harm, if evidence shows it is needed.

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