ASCL welcomes the government’s consultation on young people’s use of social media and online safety. School and college leaders see first-hand the harm these platforms can cause to children and young people’s wellbeing. 

ASCL therefore supports an approach in which children, young people and their families have access to education which supports safe use of social media, alongside the governments drive to hold the social media companies to account.

ASCL believes this consultation needs to have a wider lens on the effect of addictive technology (social media, online platforms, AI and the content freely available on them) on children and young people, and indeed in our society more generally.  

ASCL is advocating in this response for clearer and stronger regulation of the technology firms rather than simply regulating children. The government could use regulation already embedded in the Online Safety Act and enforce it effectively. 

Full response to consultation