The Bury North MP will bring together national experts, campaigners and young people for a two-hour discussion on Thursday, April 30, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
The event is open to constituents from across Bury North and aims to give local families a direct say as the Government considers tighter rules on children’s online lives.
The Government is currently consulting on new measures to improve children’s safety and wellbeing online, including a possible ban on social media access for under-16s by raising the UK’s ‘digital age of consent’.
Ministers are also seeking views on wider concerns about the impact of smartphones and social media on children’s mental health, concentration and development.
He has spoken out on the topic before (Image: supplied)
Mr Frith said the event builds on his Smartphone Free Bury North campaign, launched last year after speaking with pupils, parents and teachers about phone use and online harms.
The campaign has focused on how constant connectivity affects family life, schoolwork and children’s wellbeing and the MP says he wants Bury’s experience to shape decisions taken in Westminster.
He said: “The question of how we protect children online is one of the most pressing challenges facing families today.
“Here in Bury North, we started this debate early – listening to what young people, parents and teachers were telling us about the pressures and risks of constant connectivity.
“That is why I launched the Smartphone Free Bury North campaign, it’s about giving children the safest, healthiest start in life.
“This panel is about continuing that conversation; hearing from experts, listening to young people, and giving local residents the chance to shape the national debate at a crucial moment.”
MP James Frith will be hosting the discussion (Image: supplied)
The panel will feature:
- James Frith MP
- Sarah Cull, principal officer at teaching union NASUWT
- Megan Rose, chief of staff at digital parenting organisation Parent Zone
- Sapna Sanghvi, regional lead at campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood
- Dr Margarita Panayiotou from The University of Manchester
- A member of Bury’s Youth Cabinet, representing local young people.
Residents can sign up to attend via James Frith’s website, with the venue details provided on registration.
Those who attend will be able to share their views and hear directly from the panel, helping to inform submissions to the Government’s consultation.
The consultation, titled “Growing up in the online world: a national consultation”, is open until 11.59pm on May 26 and members of the public can also respond directly via the Government’s website
