20 January 2026
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has welcomed a consultation from the UK Government on protecting young people online.
The government are looking at a series of measures, including a social media ban for U16s.
South Belfast and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna said:
“It is becoming increasingly obvious that the internet is often not a safe space for young people. The creation of sexualised images of women and children on X has brought renewed focus onto the issue, but for years now we have seen young people targeted in harmful ways, being exposed to everything from hard-right messaging to harmful content about body image and it has become a new tool for bullying and grooming. Even at its most benign, increasing time spent on screens and social media is displacing other activities, including play, reading and conversation, and is surely affecting all our our attention spans.
“Action to tackle these issues is long overdue and the SDLP welcomes this consultation, however an outright ban is not a solution on its own. We need to learn lessons from the ban in Australia and be informed by their experiences. These measures must include far better education for young people and parents about both the risks and the positives of being online, rather than relying solely on blanket restrictions.
“We must hold social media companies to account and regulate the algorithms that push some of the most harmful content directly towards young users. The Executive and the Justice Minister also have a responsibility to act beyond this consultation. Northern Ireland must keep pace with best practice and take meaningful steps to protect young people online.”