Member

Amendment 177 seeks to require the Secretary of State to take decisive action in relation to social media by commissioning advice from our Chief Medical Officers. We already protect children altogether from alcohol, tobacco and gambling, precisely because we understand that developing minds require different protections from adults’ brains. By requiring expert medical advice to inform policy, we ensure that regulations are grounded in scientific evidence rather than industry lobbying. Amendment 183CB would establish a vital public information campaign concerning screen time for children aged zero to five. Amendment 183CA recognises, as my noble friend said, that parents are bombarded by marketing claiming educational benefits for digital apps, and lack any clear authoritative guidance on what constitutes appropriate screen exposure for children.