Social Media: Young People
(asked on 2nd March 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support the mental health of young people reliant on online communities for emotional and social support.
Answered by
Kanishka Narayan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government recognises that for many young people, online communities can play an important role in providing emotional and social support. It is vital that these online spaces are safe. Through the Online Safety Act, in-scope services are required to protect children from illegal and harmful and age-inappropriate content.
On 2 March, the government launched a consultation which will explore options to ensure children’s experiences online are safe and enriching.
The Department of Health and Social Care is working to improve access to mental health support for young people, both online and offline.