Event

Hold the phone: What age should children be on social media?

2 December 2025, 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Location: Online

Think tank: Centre for Social Justice

This event hosted by UK think tank the Centre for Social Justice explores how social media is harming children and what we can do to address this challenge.

Watch our panel discussion exploring the growing evidence of how social media is harming children and young people, and what government, schools, mental health professionals, and civil society can do together to address this national challenge.

This event comes at a timely moment as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proceeds through the House of Lords, providing a space to examine the case for raising the age of access to social media, and to consider how policy can better safeguard the wellbeing and development of children.

The conversation will bring together parliamentarians, clinicians, educators, campaigners, and those with lived experience to consider the scale of harm and the policy solutions available. We very much hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be an important and timely discussion.

Speakers

Lord Nash – Former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools

Jonathan Hinder MP – Labour MP for Pendle and Clitheroe

Sophie Winkleman – Actress, Charity Patron and Campaigner

Simon Bailey CBE, QPM, DL, MSt (Cantab) – Chair of the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute

Dr Becky Foljambe – NHS GP Partner and founder of Health Professionals for Safer Screens

Joe Shalam – Policy Director at the Centre for Social Justice