Skip to main content

Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 January 2026. It was answered by Kanishka Narayan (Labour) on Thursday, 8 January 2026 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.


Internet: Young People

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help tackle online abuse against young people.

Answer

The Online Safety Act contains robust provisions to protect young people from online abuse.

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must protect all users from illegal harassment and content and children from harmful content, including hateful and abusive content. These provisions are already in force, and Ofcom has robust enforcement powers for platforms who fail to fulfil their duties.

The Act will also require the largest categorised services to offer adults user empowerment tools to enable them to reduce engagement with abusive content. Ofcom will be consulting on these user empowerment tools this year.

We continually monitor the Act’s impact and effectiveness to ensure all users are protected online.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
100853
Session
2024-26
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Abuse Internet Young people
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk