Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require (a) Instagram and (b) other social media channels to add posting dates to all posts.
The government is committed to making the internet safer. Media literacy can help users engage critically with online content, including contextual data and labelling. Since 2022, DSIT has provided £3 million in funding for media literacy projects that empower users to navigate the online world safely.
The Online Safety Act updated Ofcom’s statutory media literacy duty by placing targeted duties on the regulator to help the public assess the reliability, accuracy and authenticity of content on services. Ofcom has published a three-year media literacy strategy that emphasises collaboration with platforms. We look forward to working with them as they implement these strategies.