MPs told 'child online bullying is rife'

Parliament has been told of children suffering from online bullying, harmful images and location tracking.

Labour's MP for Darlington, in County Durham, called for tighter controls on access and data after hearing from parents and young people who say that "online bullying is rife".

Lola McEvoy told fellow MPs that child online safety is the "most defining issue of our time".

The debate follows campaigning by Ellen Roome, from Cheltenham, who believes social media played a role in the death of her 14-year-old son Jools.

Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, McEvoy called Ms Roome "truly inspiring", adding: "What Ellen's been through is unimaginable for any parent, and anybody in the country.

"But what's special about her is she's turned the worst pain into a campaign to fight for better for others and I think she's remarkable."

Reflecting on what happened to her son, Ms Roome said: "That day he'd been with friends, there had been nothing unusual, he'd eaten a pizza.

"There was a video of him starting a fire pit, he said he used my nail varnish as he couldn't start it and I told him to be careful and I'd be home in an hour.

"I got home and found him unconscious."

She believes he may have taken part in an online challenge that went wrong, but has faced barriers to accessing his data.

McEvoy is working with schools and parents on measures to improve online safety and says she is "horrified" at some of the things young people are exposed to.

She told the debate in Westminster that she want to phone use in schools restricted and more control over the age of consent for digital data use.

The MP is also pushing for parents to be given access to the social media accounts of deceased children without needing a court order.

Feryal Clark, minister for AI and Digital, said the government's priority was the "effective implementation" of the new Online Safety Act so "those who use social media can benefit from its wider protections".

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can visit the BBC Action Line.

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