My wake-up call came when my seven-year-old daughter asked for a smartphone for Christmas, writes Laura-Kyrke-Smith MP.

Like many families across Aylesbury and the villages, I'm concerned about what lies ahead as we navigate the teenage years.

That's why I welcome our Government's consultation on children's use of mobile phones and social media. For years, we've allowed social media companies unchecked access to our children. We wouldn't accept this from toy manufacturers or pharmaceutical companies. Why should we accept it from tech giants?

The evidence is clear. This period of growing screen use has coincided with declining youth mental health, poor sleep, increased school absence, and rising rates of self-harm and eating disorders across our community.

Children aren't failing to regulate their social media use because they lack discipline. They're placed in an environment that overwhelms their still-developing brains. Platforms designed to be addictive, with infinite scrolling and streaks, interfere with the cognitive abilities crucial for learning and resilience.

Based on conversations with parents and young people across Aylesbury and the villages, I believe an age limit of 16 for social media is the right approach. It creates a shared norm that childhood doesn't need to be lived through social media. It's also equalising – not all parents have the time or knowledge to manage parental controls effectively. But I will wait to see what the evidence from the consultation concludes.

This isn't about taking something away from children or returning to a rose-tinted past. It's about giving them the right protections for our digital age, allowing them to benefit from the best of the internet whilst keeping them safe from harm. Our children deserve to grow up happy, healthy and ready for both the online and real world.

The consultation will be accepting submissions soon and will be available via consult.education.gov.uk. Please do get involved!

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