Putney MP Backs Consultation on Social Media Rule Changes

'Short and sharp' review considering tougher restrictions for children

Fleur Anderson explaining her support for the consultation

February 5, 2026

Putney MP Fleur Anderson has welcomed the Government’s new “short and sharp” consultation on strengthening online protections for children, saying it marks an important step in addressing growing concerns about the impact of smartphones and social media on young people’s wellbeing.

The consultation will look at proposals to restrict addictive design features, introduce stronger age-verification checks and consider tougher limits on social media access for under-16s. Ministers have also said they will examine international approaches, including recent moves in Australia to restrict access to multiple platforms for younger teenagers.

The announcement comes amid increasing anxiety from parents, teachers and health professionals about the effects of constant online engagement on children’s mental health. National studies have linked heavy social media use to disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, exposure to harmful content and pressure to conform to unrealistic online standards.

Locally, Ms Anderson says she has heard the same concerns repeatedly from families across Putney. More than 1,000 parents have contacted her office in the past year to pledge limits on their children’s smartphone and social media use. Schools in the constituency, including Ark Putney Academy, have also adopted stricter mobile phone policies, which they say have improved behaviour and reduced distraction.

Supporters of reform argue that while school-day restrictions help, the most harmful effects often occur outside school hours, where children may be exposed to violent material, pornography or unmoderated peer pressure.

The MP said the scale of harmful content available to children should “shock us into action”. She highlighted research showing that a quarter of children have seen pornography by the age of 11, and argued that the current digital age of consent — set at 13 — may no longer be appropriate.

“The design of social media has been a social experiment on our young people for too long,” she said. “As a mother and grandmother, I share the fears of parents up and down the country. Many feel overwhelmed and outpaced by technology that is developing faster than regulation can keep up.”

She added that clearer national guidance for schools and stronger enforcement by Ofsted would help ensure consistency across the country.

The consultation forms part of a broader national conversation about how to balance children’s access to technology with the need to protect them from harm. Campaigners have long argued that platforms should be required to redesign their services to reduce addictive features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and algorithmic content feeds.

Others warn that restrictions must be carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences, such as pushing young people onto unregulated platforms or creating barriers for those who rely on digital tools for social connection or support.

The Government’s consultation will gather views from parents, young people, schools, tech companies and child-safety experts. Anderson is encouraging local residents to take part. “This consultation is a crucial step forward,” she said. “It is time to put children’s wellbeing ahead of engagement metrics and profit, and I want to hear from constituents who have views or experiences to share.”

The consultation is expected to inform further legislation or regulatory changes later in the year.