Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether their forthcoming measures on persuasive design will address features such as communication streaks and network expansion prompts that may encourage children to begin or continue contact with unknown or abusive users.

On 15 June, the government published a progress statement in response to the ‘Growing up in the Online World’ consultation.

This set out a package of new measures including banning social media platforms from offering their services to under 16s and restricting harmful functionalities, including stranger communication, across a wider range of services for under 16s. Restrictions on harmful functionalities will also be on by default for 16 and 17 year olds.

The government has committed to provide a further update, including on restrictions for persuasive design features, in the coming weeks.