Quickstart guide: how to make your voice heard during the government consultation

[.style-intro]The UK government has launched a national consultation: Growing up in the online world. The consultation runs March–May 26th and the outcome could help shape future law.[.style-intro]

This consultation happened because parents spoke up. 250,000 SFC supporters wrote to MPs earlier this year, helping push the issue onto the political agenda.

Now we have a short window to make sure the voice of families outweighs Big Tech lobbying.

This moment is about two things:

1️⃣ Influencing the outcome – parents want meaningful action, not minor tweaks
2️⃣ Growing the Smartphone Free Childhood movement – for whatever comes next

Five things you can do

You don’t need to do everything. Even one action helps. 

1. Respond to the consultation survey

The Government has launched an online survey asking parents, carers and young people what they think.

You don’t need to be an expert — your experience as a parent matters.

Encourage others to respond too, including:

• grandparents
• teachers
• older children and teenagers

2. Write to your MP

MPs will feed views from their constituencies into the consultation and may vote on the outcome later.

Personal letters matter most. Share:

• what you’re seeing in your family or school community
• why this issue matters to you
• what change you’d like to see

If possible, ask for a short meeting at their local surgery.

3. Attend or organise a local discussion

Many MPs will hold local consultation events.

If one happens nearby:

• attend
• bring other parents
• share your experiences

You can also host your own discussion at a school or community venue and invite your MP.

Local conversations are one of the best ways to bring new parents into the movement.

4. Grow the Parent Pact

Encourage parents to join Smartphone Free Childhood and sign the Parent Pact.

The bigger the community becomes during this moment, the stronger our influence – both during and after the consultation.

5. Engage local media

Local newspapers, radio stations and community outlets are often interested in stories about smartphones and childhood.

If you organise an event or discussion, consider:

• inviting a journalist
• sharing local parent perspectives
• highlighting the consultation

Local coverage helps bring the conversation to more families.

It’s common sense: what we’re asking for (the quick version)

If platforms aren’t safe for children, they shouldn’t have access to children.

In every other area of childhood, products must prove they are safe before children use them. Social media should be no different.

Until platforms redesign their systems to be safe for children, they should not offer accounts to under-16s.

This isn’t anti-technology.
It’s pro-childhood.

Children will grow up online — but they deserve a digital world designed around their wellbeing, not maximising engagement.
‍

Five conversation starters

1. Parents are demanding action, now
Families across the country are asking for this, 250k of them wrote to MPs to raise the age for social media.

2. Current platforms aren’t built for children
They are designed to maximise attention for profit, not to support healthy development.

3. Age limits reset the default
A clear national boundary helps parents say “not yet.”

4. Responsibility should sit with tech companies
Parents cannot outparent algorithms built by trillion-dollar companies to capture attention.

5. This is the start of a reset
Raising the age is not a silver bullet. But it’s an important step towards innovative, child-safe digital environments.

SFC’s handy responses to common pushbacks

“Kids will just get around it.”
Some will – just like with alcohol age limits. But rules still matter because they set social norms.

“This will push kids into darker corners of the internet.”
There’s no evidence for this. Young people mainly use mainstream platforms because everyone else is there.

“But social media has benefits.”
Yes – but communication, learning and creativity don’t require algorithmic feeds designed to maximise engagement.

“Shouldn’t we focus on education instead?”
We need both education and regulation. Education alone cannot counter systems designed to capture attention.

We’re in this together

This consultation is one of the biggest moments yet for the movement.

If thousands of parents speak up:

• Government will hear it
• MPs will hear it
• The national conversation will shift

Most importantly, more families will realise they are not alone. And together we can build a better future for our kids. 

[.style-link]For a more in-depth guide, check out our Community Consulation Playbook.[.style-link]