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Internet: Children

Asked by Mr Andrew SnowdenConservativeDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 19 June 2026UIN 8893

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of powers under the Online Safety Act in protecting young people from online harms.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan

Children’s safety and wellbeing online is a government priority. The Online Safety Act provides robust foundations, but we have always been clear that there is more to do.

That is why on 15 June we set out our plan in response to the ‘Growing up in the Online World’ consultation to: ban social media platforms from offering their services to under-16s; restrict children under 16 from accessing harmful functionalities on other services; and restrict under 18s from accessing so-called relationship chatbots.

The government will take whatever steps are needed to keep children safe online.

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