A Scottish teenager is set to lead the UK Youth Parliament in an investigation into the connection between social media and youth violence. Beth MacKay, 18, who represents Banffshire and Buchan Coast, will present the perspectives of young people in Scotland at the Youth Select Committee in the House of Commons next month.
The inquiry will examine how social media platforms promote violent content, how they implement age restrictions, and the effectiveness of UK Government policies in safeguarding children from harmful online content. This topic was voted as the most concerning issue by all 300 members of the Youth Parliament.
The investigation comes amidst the ‘Our Kids … Our Future’ campaign by Daily Record, urging tech giants to remove violent content involving teenagers from their platforms before it spreads widely. The committee was established in response to disturbing incidents of attacks on young individuals that were filmed and shared online, causing further distress to the victims.
Beth MacKay expressed her enthusiasm for participating in the Youth Select Committee’s focus on the links between social media and youth violence, highlighting the significant role social media plays in anti-social behaviour, youth violence, and bullying in communities across Scotland and the UK. She emphasized the need for social media platforms and government intervention to protect children and young people from harmful content online.
The Youth Select Committee, comprising 12 members aged between 14 and 19, convenes annually to allow young people to investigate topics of importance to them. Past inquiries have tackled issues such as knife crime, the cost of living crisis, and body image. This year, the committee aims to gather insights from experts, youth organisations, politicians, and young victims to understand how exposure to violent content online correlates with incidents of serious violence among young people.
Chair Wania Eshaal Ahmad stressed the importance of listening to young people’s experiences and perspectives on youth violence, specifically in relation to social media, to inform policies that address the current realities faced by the youth. The committee invites contributions from all backgrounds to enhance their understanding of this critical issue, with oral evidence sessions scheduled for December.
The full inquiry report is expected to be published next year, with a call for young people and those working with them to share their views with the committee to influence recommendations to decision makers. Submissions can be sent to youthselectcommittee@parliament.uk by January 16.
The initiative underscores the significance of empowering young voices in shaping policies that protect them online and address the complex challenges of youth violence in the digital age.