Skip to main content

Online safety and psychology experts give evidence

18 July 2016

The Communications Committee holds the first evidence sessions of its new inquiry on the subject of children and the internet.

Background

The Committee hears evidence from experts on child online safety about the main risks and benefits posed by the ubiquitous access to the internet that children now enjoy, and about how possible harm might be reduced. The session will be immediately followed by experts on psychology and psychiatry, including child specialists and an expert on addictions.

Witnesses

Tuesday 19 July, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster

At 3.30pm

  • Will Gardner, CEO, Childnet International
  • John Carr OBE, Secretary, UK Children's Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety (CHIS)

At 4.30pm

  • Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Consultant Psychiatrist in Addictions
  • Dr Angharad Rudkin, Programme Tutor and Child Clinical Psychologist
  • Dr Dickon Bevington, Medical Director of The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in London

Areas of discussion

Questions likely to be covered in the first session include:

  • What are the main risks and benefits of internet usage for children?
  • How do these differ according to different age groups?
  • What role should education play?
  • What are the gaps in current regulation?

Questions likely to be covered in the second session include:

  • What impact does increased access to the internet have on children's mental health and well-being?
  • Is incidence of internet addiction increasing?
  • Could websites and online services be designed to be more child-friendly?

Further information

Image: iStockphoto