Parents, carers and young people in Rochdale are being encouraged to take part in a new national consultation on children’s online safety. The Government exercise will gather views on how to better protect young people across social media, gaming platforms and emerging technologies.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh is urging families, schools and youth organisations across the borough to share their experiences before the consultation closes on 26 May. The Government is expected to respond in the summer.
The consultation will consider whether further measures are needed to safeguard children and teenagers online. Options under discussion include introducing a minimum age for social media use, restricting design features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, and examining whether overnight curfews could support sleep and wellbeing.
Officials will also seek views on strengthening age verification processes, limiting certain artificial intelligence chatbot functions and improving digital literacy support for both parents and children.
Paul Waugh MP said, “Across Rochdale, I regularly hear from parents who are worried about what social media and smartphones mean for their children’s sleep, concentration and mental health. Many feel they are up against platforms designed to keep young people scrolling late into the night.
“Others tell me they don’t want heavy handed rules that simply push teenagers into less regulated corners of the internet. There are strong views on all sides, and that is exactly why this consultation matters.
“I want families, schools, youth organisations and young people across Rochdale to have their say. Whether it’s about a minimum age for social media, curfews, AI chatbots or stronger age checks, your experience on the ground should help shape what happens next.
“We all want children in Rochdale to grow up safe, confident and equipped with the digital skills they’ll need for the future. This consultation is an opportunity to make sure national policy reflects real life in our town.”
The Government has said it will also work with parents and teenagers to run pilot schemes testing potential measures such as social media bans, overnight curfews and daily screen time limits to assess their practical impact.
The consultation is open to parents, carers, young people, schools, charities and professionals who work with children. Separate versions have been developed for parents and for young people to support wider participation.
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