Keir Starmer: “Today, we are setting out some of the next steps we will take to help ensure we raise a generation of healthy and happy children.”

“Every parent recognises the moment. Your child is sitting right in front of you, but their attention is somewhere else. Head down. Thumb scrolling. A world away behind a screen.

“At first, it can feel harmless. A tablet to keep them busy. Social media so they are not left out. But moments like this are quietly ressaping childhood.

“Technology has great potential to improve people’s lives and open exciting new opportunities for young people. But being a child should not be about constant judgement from strangers or the pressure to perform for likes. Children need space to grow.

“For too many today, it means being pulled into a world of endless scrolling, anxiety and comparison. Teachers see the impact in schools, and parents live with it at home.

“That is why this government has shown we are prepared to take robust action to protect children online. Last week when it was found people were using AI tool Grok to make vile images, we moved quickly to get it stopped.

“Today, we are setting out some of the next steps we will take to help ensure we raise a generation of healthy and happy children, who thrive in later life.

“Firstly, mobiles phones have no place in classrooms. For the first time, Ofsted inspectors will start checking bans are being properly enforced in schools, as we give our backing to headteachers to take firm action.

“To support families, parents will be offered evidence-based advice on how long children aged 5 to 16 should spend looking at phone, tablet and computer screens. This will come in addition to new guidance for under-fives, which will be published in April.

“And we will work with experts to identify the most effective measures we can take to do more. As I have been clear, no option is off the table, including looking at what age children should be able to access social media and whether we need restrictions on things such as addictive features like infinite scrolling or streaks in apps.

“This is a hugely complex issue – so it’s important it’s properly considered. We will examine the evidence and listen to the views of parents, young people and children’s groups.

“We will not get another chance at our young ones’ early lives, so we will do whatever it takes to give every child the best start.”