Lola McEvoy backs bill to tackle smartphone addiction

Lola McEvoy has thrown her support behind the bill by fellow Labour MP and former teacher Josh MacAlister.

The proposed legislation includes measures to make phones less addictive by design and raising the age of “internet adulthood” - the age by which social media companies can capture data without parental consent - from 13 to 16.

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy. (Image: LOLA MCEVOY) Because it is a private members bill, a debate in the Commons in the near future is guaranteed.

Ms McEvoy said: "Our children are being left without protection to navigate the online world alone. Parents are rightly raising the alarm. 

“I was elected on a platform to sort the country out for a better future for the next generation and this bill will tackle one of the major issues of our time."

This comes after Ms McEvoy set up Darlington’s first Online Safety Forum in September, which aims to include children's views on internet safety.

Among the aims will be to teach the best use of mobile phones in classrooms, policies on online bullying and the consequences of their actions on social media.

Mr MacAlister added: “The evidence is mounting that children doom scrolling for hours a day is causing widespread harm. We need the equivalent of the “seatbelt” legislation for social media use for children.

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“Adults find it hard enough to manage screen time, so why are we expecting children to manage this addictive content without some shared rules? Parents are in an impossible bind over whether to ostracise their children from social media or expose them to the harms and addiction of content.

“Countries around the world are now taking bold action and our children risk being left behind. It’s time to have the national debate here in the UK. Polling shows that parents overwhelmingly support taking action on this issue and the coalition of experts backing my Bill reflects the views of those who are dealing with the consequences of excessive screen time.

“I look forward to the debate and hope to convince colleagues from across the House to back my Bill. I’d urge supporters to write to their MPs to encourage them to do so.”