M

Member

Speaking in the House of Lords on 21 January 2026

Debate

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Contribution

But this is about more than the stories that have been shared. There may not have been a referendum, but, staggeringly, nearly a quarter of a million parents, grandparents and carers in the past six days alone have taken time out of their busy days to write to every MP in the country calling for a ban via the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign. Some 75% of the British public want this, according to polling from More in Common just before Christmas. Polling out today shows us that a majority of 13 to 24 year-olds say that Governments should remove access to social media for those under 16. Significantly, 78% of Gen Z would delay giving their own child access to social media for as long as possible, having experienced social media themselves as a child.

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