James Naish MP has published a new report warning that families are being left to navigate the challenges of smartphones and social media without clear guidance, and urging the government to take a more decisive lead.
The report follows a roundtable convened by Naish on 23 January 2026, bringing together pupils, teachers, parents and carers from seven Rushcliffe secondary schools alongside expert voices including Ian Russell, founder of the Molly Rose Foundation. It also draws on responses from more than 200 local parents.
Its findings paint a picture of growing unease among families. While most recognise the benefits of digital technology, many parents said they feel “out of their depth” managing its risks, and young people expressed a clear desire to be more involved in shaping the rules that affect them.
Naish argues that the current approach is inconsistent and insufficient, leaving parents and schools to fill the gaps. The report sets out five recommendations, including clearer and consistently enforced school phone policies, an age-rating system for social media platforms, improved education and support for families, and a requirement for tech companies to build child safety into their products from the outset. It also stresses that young people’s voices must be central to future policymaking.
Commenting on the findings, Naish said the moment a child is given their first smartphone has become a defining experience for modern families—but one many feel unprepared for.
“What I heard from families across Rushcliffe is that too many feel they are working this out alone,” he said. “They want clearer policies, better support and a more joined-up approach so that parents and young people have a consistent understanding of the digital landscape.”
Naish welcomed the government’s recent announcement that phones will be banned in schools in England by law, describing it as a step that addresses one of his key recommendations. However, he argued that further action is needed to ensure children are properly protected online.
The report lands as the government’s consultation, Growing up in the online world: a national conversation, continues to gather views on children’s access to smartphones and social media, with submissions open until 26 May.
With concern about online harms rising across the political spectrum, Naish’s intervention adds to growing pressure for a more coherent national strategy—one that supports parents, listens to young people, and places greater responsibility on technology companies.