Question follow-through · 77809

Digital Technology: Children

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will meet the Chief Medical Officer to discuss the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent.

answeredDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Tabled
16 Sept 2025
Target answer date
13 Oct 2025
Answer
17 Oct 2025 · 31 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

Recorded timeline

  1. 16 Sept 2025

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will meet the Chief Medical Officer to discuss the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent.

  2. 13 Oct 2025

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 17 Oct 2025

    Answer published

    In December 2024 DSIT commissioned a feasibility study into research to understand the impact of smartphones and social media on children. The report will be published in due course.The government keeps all legislation under review and engages regularly w...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

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19 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the NSPCC's report, Tools to Combat Online Harms, published in November 2025.

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27 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure .eu and .ie domain registration systems recognise Northern Ireland as an eligible territory.

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Mobile Phones and Social Media: Children

8 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77809, whether her Department's report into the impact of smartphones and social media on children will be published before t

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Social Media: Regulation

9 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of self-assessments provided by social media companies on risks of hosting suicide, self-harm and depression-related content in the co

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9 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of Ofcom’s effectiveness in responding to harmful suicide, self-harm and depression-related content online.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

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9 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on protecting children and young people online.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Online Safety Act 2023

9 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of Ofcom's performance in enforcing the Online Safety Act 2023.