Today is Safer Internet Day – an initiative to raise awareness about online safety and how we can better protect people in the digital space.
The internet is a powerful tool that connects us, provides access to vital information, and can offer critical support to those in need. However, it also presents real risks. A 2017 study found that harmful online content was linked to over a quarter of all suicides in young people. This is deeply concerning, and it is why organisations like the Samaritans are calling for stronger protections online.
I have long believed that freedom of speech should be freedom for everyone, but those exposed to harmful content or relentless abuse online are not enjoying that freedom, and regulation has a role to play in restoring it. The Online Safety Act was a significant step forward, but we must continue to strike the right balance between online freedoms and the protections necessary to keep people safe.
