Since March, we have been gathering your views on young people’s relationship with social media in order to feed into the Government’s consultation.
This consultation is the next step in the government’s work to ensure children’s experiences online are safe and enriching, understanding how technology impacts children’s wellbeing, and what more can be done to help families strike the right balance.
Thank you to everyone who filled in the online survey on Alice’s website. All of the responses have been collated and sent to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology last week, ensuring local voices from Norwich North are heard in this.
Read the full letter below…
Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
22-26 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2EG
United Kingdom
Tuesday 26th May 2026
Dear Liz,
Re: The perspective of residents on Norwich North on regulation of social media
Like many residents in Norwich North, I am extremely grateful for the work you are leading at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to better protect young people from the harms that can be found online and on social media. I welcome the Government’s ambitious consultation to gather views from across the country and its commitment to bring forward new legislation following consideration of the evidence. I am pleased to contribute to that process by sharing the views of my constituents.
From 11th March to 30th April, I hosted an online consultation to gather evidence from residents in Norwich North. In total, 82 residents responded, including 61 parents, guardians or carers of someone under 18, six teachers or school staff, and others including grandparents, social media users and parents of young adults.
I have summarised the key findings and themes raised by constituents below.
A personal view on the key themes
Overwhelmingly, my constituents believe that social media is causing harm to children and young people, and they are looking to the Government to take action.
While the reasons for this varied, I was particularly struck by the number of respondents who highlighted the negative impact social media is having on young people’s mental health, as well as the ease with which children can be influenced by the content they encounter. We have seen far too many tragic examples across the country of where this can lead.
Although I expected the figure to be high, I was nevertheless struck by the significant number of constituents who reported encountering harmful, fake or misleading content online. We cannot allow this to continue.
A minority of respondents felt that the benefits of social media outweighed the negatives. They raised important points about how these platforms allow young people to connect with ideas, people and cultures beyond their immediate surroundings, and how this can be a source of inspiration and opportunity.
I was also particularly struck by respondents who noted that, for many young LGBTQ+ people, the ability to connect online with others who share similar experiences can be empowering and supportive. Should the Government decide to introduce an outright ban, consideration should also be given to how these positive aspects might be replicated or preserved through other means.
Some constituents also expressed concern that banning social media could push young people towards less regulated and potentially more dangerous parts of the internet. I am especially mindful of the impact this could have on the current generation of young people who already use social media and could lose legal access as a result of legislative changes. For that reason, I believe it is important that any approach taken is holistic and capable of delivering the outcomes we seek.
More harm than good
- 89% of respondents agreed with the statement: “At the moment, I believe social media is causing more harm than good to young people”, while 11% disagreed.
- Those who agreed frequently described social media as addictive, damaging to attention spans, and requiring strict time limits.
- Many respondents highlighted the negative impact on mental health, particularly in relation to body image and unrealistic lifestyle expectations. Others raised concerns about the influence social media has on young people’s thinking, its contribution to reduced in-person interaction, and access to inappropriate content.
- The minority who disagreed pointed to the positive role social media can play in maintaining friendships and relationships, as well as encouraging creativity and inspiration.
- One LGBTQ+ respondent described the positive impact of being able to connect online with people experiencing similar challenges.
- Teachers and school staff criticised platforms for providing an environment in which bullying can flourish.
Access to harmful or concerning content
Respondents reported seeing the following content online:
- 76% saw content they considered to be fake news or misinformation
- 71% saw content promoting unrealistic body image or beauty standards
- 68% saw content promoting treatments intended to alter appearance, including hair loss reversal treatments, testosterone replacement therapies, or weight-loss products
- 61% saw content promoting gambling or other potentially addictive behaviours
- 45% saw online bullying
- 43% saw AI-generated images they considered offensive or degrading towards women
- 38% saw inappropriate content generated by AI chatbots
- 33% saw AI-generated images promoting far-right or racist imagery
- 20% saw pornography they did not intend to view
- 15% saw content promoting suicide or self-harm
- 4% saw violent sexual content, including strangulation
Moving forward
Respondents were able to select multiple options indicating what action they would support in future:
- 74% support a total ban on social media for under-16s
- 68% support a ban on smartphones in schools
- 67% support stronger rules on social media companies to prevent harmful content being accessed by people of all ages
- 63% support stronger rules on social media companies specifically to prevent harmful content being accessed by under-18s
- 35% support a ban on social media for under-13s, alongside restrictions for under-16s
- 12% support reducing restrictions on social media companies, believing current regulations have gone too far
When asked whether they foresaw any disadvantages or challenges associated with a ban on social media for under-16s, respondents most frequently raised:
- Difficulties around enforcement, including concerns that young people may seek more dangerous or unregulated ways to access the internet
- Concerns about age-verification measures infringing on adults’ privacy
- Fears that restrictions could limit young people’s exposure to wider viewpoints, cultures and experiences, increasing social isolation
- Concerns about reduced access to educational content available through social media platforms
- However, many respondents stated that they saw few disadvantages, or considered any drawbacks to be relatively minor compared to the potential benefits.
Continuing the conversation
I hope this contribution proves helpful to the Government’s consultation.
As the Government publishes its response and outlines its plans, I look forward to continuing engagement on this important issue. I will continue to represent the views of people in Norwich North to help deliver an approach that enables young people to benefit from digital innovation while safeguarding their wellbeing and protecting their childhood.
Sincerely,
Alice