Commenting on the Education Select Committee report on screen time and social media, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"For too long children have been exposed to harmful content that is pushed to them by algorithms created to profit social-media companies. On a daily basis they are viewing material promoting self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, misogyny and sexual exploitation. It is welcome that this is being recognised by the Education Select Committee, who agree that these harms are not accidental but are purposely caused by design choices.
"Currently it falls on teachers, parents and other youth workers to have to deal with the consequences. We agree with the committee that a rebalancing of this is vital, and schools cannot be left to counter unsafe digital platforms alone.
"This cross-party committee agrees with teachers, parents and civil society groups that a statutory ban on the use of social media platforms for children under the age of 16 is necessary. It is time for the Government to listen to these calls and act. They must raise the age to 16."