Holly Willoughby has expressed fears for her children’s safety if social media isn’t more carefully policed.
The television presenter was interviewing Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday’s episode of This Morning when she voiced her concerns about bullying on social media platforms.
Holly, who is mum to Harry, eight, Belle, six, and Chester, three, said: “I’m a parent and my children aren’t yet on social media but this is coming, and obviously I’m very concerned about it.
“Bullying doesn’t just happen at school. It happens online. We have Facebook and other social media platforms which can be forums for bullying. They are being used to bully people.
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“How can you tell me as a parent that my children will be safe on there? How can you police it?”
Mrs May responded by saying she “absolutely recognises” the problem Holly had raised and she’s been working to tackle the issue.
She spoke about meeting secondary school students recently who all said social media was a big aspect in mental health problems.
“We are doing a number of things like helping protect young people from online pornography by introducing an age verification. So basically we want people to be protected online as they are offline,” she said.
“We will introduce a new strategy on internet safety. I want this country to be both the best place in this world to set up a digital business but also the safest place to be online.
“We’re working with the companies and we’ve done quite a lot with them already but we’re continuing to work with them to see what else can be done.
“And actually, for the youngsters themselves going through education in schools, how can they be resilient to this?
“The internet is a wonderful thing and social media is hugely positive in so many ways but let’s recognise there are downsides as well.”
Mrs May was on This Morning to discuss a review on post-18 education.
She said the two main issues she wanted to tackle were the cost of student fees and subsequent debts, and the idea that an academic degree is best for everyone.
“We need to get rid of the stigma attached to technical education,” she said. “University is not for everyone. Some may want an apprenticeship or a technical qualification.
“We have never put enough sufficient emphasis on technical and vocational education. I think we have got to break this old-fashioned attitude that there is one way through in education. What’s right for every young person and every child.”
Mrs May was also challenged on mental health support in schools.
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“We need to do a lot more on mental health,” she said. “The figure is, and I found this astounding when I first heard this, that half of mental health problems start before the age of 14. Last year, we launched a programme running out across secondary schools, so that at least one member of staff is trained in dealing with mental health issues.”
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