Hitchin MP Alistair Strathern has brought together local parents, psychologists, campaigners and school staff for a community discussion on upcoming changes to social media restrictions for young people.

The meeting, held this week, focused on growing concerns about the impact of social media on children and followed international moves – including recent action in Australia – to introduce stronger protections for young people online.

During the discussion, parents spoke candidly about the challenges they face managing social media use at home. One mother said it felt like being "on a runaway train", while another said social media was "melting her son's brain". Others described the situation as "Whac-A-Mole", with new platforms constantly appearing as others are restricted.

There was strong support among parents for better education for both children and adults on how to use social media safely. This mirrors feedback from workshops recently held across five local schools, where young people themselves raised concerns about online pressure, safety, and the impact of algorithms on what they see online.

Parents also highlighted the need for more offline opportunities for young people in the Hitchin area, including improved parks, more youth-friendly spaces, and free places for children and teenagers to spend time together.

Many parents said they would support restrictions on apps for younger users, including messaging platforms, and expressed strong concern about algorithm-driven content being targeted at children. Short-form content designed to be highly addictive was a particular worry. Time limits were widely supported, while opinions varied on the best way to introduce age verification.

Parents across the constituency are being encouraged to take part in the Government's national consultation on young people and the online world.

Speaking after the event, Mr Strathern said: "It was an honour to hear from so many thoughtful voices, offering insight, lived experience and practical ideas. It's vital that families are at the heart of shaping how we protect young people online, and that parents feel empowered to enforce these protections.

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"Childhood should be about exploring, achieving, and engaging with the world. But all too often when children explore the online world, they're exposed to harms we simply shouldn't tolerate.

"From addictive algorithms to groomers and extreme content, we can do far better at keeping young people safe online and protect their childhood to be exactly that."

The Government says it is introducing new measures to protect children online, alongside a new National Youth Strategy and expanded Mental Health Support Teams in schools, which are expected to reach an additional 900,000 children over the next year.