Asked by: Baroness Manzoor (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to reduce the use of electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones for preschool children and babies; and how they are alerting new parents of the possible dangers for preschool children and babies overusing these devices.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ofcom has duty to promote media literacy to help the public understand the nature and impact of where harmful content and online behaviour affects certain groups.
The Online Safety Act also requires user-to-user and search services likely to be accessed by children to risk assess their service and provide safety measures for child users of all age groups, including early years. In its draft child safety risk assessment guidance, Ofcom has identified age as a risk factor, listing 0-5 years as an age group for which it expects services to consider the age-related risks based on the developmental stage of the children.