Lib Dems: "Film-Style" ratings the only way to tackle harmful social media ahead of key Lords vote

EMBARGO: 22.30 Tuesday 20th January 

Ahead of crucial votes in the House of Lords tomorrow on access to social media for under-16s, Munira Wilson MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, Children and Families, said:

“Now more than ever we need a smart approach that puts an end to harmful social media for under-16s, finally holding tech giants' feet to the fire without cutting kids off from the benefits of the digital world.

“Our proposal for a film-style classification system would adopt a trusted framework for the digital age, forcing social media to catch up with what traditional media has done for decades.

“The Liberal Democrat approach, targeting platforms based on the harms they pose, is the only one to receive broad support from both the NSPCC and 42 different experts and children's charities. We need to keep our kids safe online, and we want to work cross-party to achieve that.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

See here for the joint statement from charities and experts on a social media ban.