Melanie Ward MP: "The impact of social media on children is of enormous concern"
Vile racist abuse was recently posted on my Facebook page after I supported Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre in the wake of violent threats.
These attempts to stir up hate - mostly by outsiders - have received significant attention. Hundreds of local people have shared their disgust and the police are investigating some of the comments. As peddlers of hate raise their voices and try to win votes, we who believe in decency not division must be increasingly prepared to speak up against them.
Social media giants like Facebook have shown themselves to be unwilling to remove abuse and make their online spaces safe. This is disturbing for adults but the impact of social media on our children is of enormous concern. I am one amongst many parents of small children who worries about how to keep them safe in this online world.
Across social media, there are predators and radicals who exist to take advantage of our children’s young minds. Algorithms on TikTok and Instagram cause real damage; one in four young people who have seen violent content online say the platforms pushed it to them. Seventy-five per cent of 15-year-olds have seen a beheading video online. Users with eating disorders are 40 times more likely to see content about eating disorders on TikTok than those without. Snapchat is a major factor in bullying.
Every time I speak to kids or teachers at local schools like Kirkcaldy High and Balwearie, this subject comes up. Laws like the Online Safety Act cannot keep up with the pace of technological change. We must put the onus back on the global companies responsible, not on parents.
I support a ban on social media for under 16s and I welcome our UK Labour Government’s new consultation on this. I have launched a project to engage with local high school children about their experiences on social media; I hope to share these as part of the consultation. In the past few days, I have raised the need for action directly with the Minister for Early Education and the Minister for Online Safety.
I am glad that Scottish Labour have promised a smartphone ban in schools should we form the Scottish Government after May’s elections. The SNP have no excuse for their inaction.
One third of parents say they have cried over their child’s smartphone obsession. This cannot go on. I will work to make sure that it does not.