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MPs to debate a petition relating to children and social media

8 January 2025

On Monday 13 January, MPs will debate a petition relating to children and social media.

Lewis Atkinson MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. MPs from all parties can take part, and the Government will send a minister to respond.

"Give parents/guardians a right to access social media accounts of their children"

The petition, which has more than 126,000 signatures, states: "I want parents/guardians to have the right to be given access to their children's social media accounts, by social media providers, both when the child is alive and if they are deceased."

In its response to the petition, provided on 20 August 2024, the Government said: "The Government is committed to tackling the harm children face online and we will look at how we can support families to see information about a child’s internet use following a bereavement."

Read the full response

What are petitions debates?

Petitions debates are 'general' debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs will not vote on the request of the petitions at the end of the debate. Instead, the aim is to give MPs an opportunity to discuss the issues raised by a petition, and get a response from the Government.

Petition debates are scheduled by the Petitions Committee. Only e-petitions started on the Parliament petitions site are considered by the Petitions Committee.

Further information

Image: Parliamentary copyright