NSCG students take part in social media consultation with MPs at Institute of Technology

The visit brought together NSCG learners alongside students from Blessed William Howard Catholic High School, Sir Graham Balfour School, Stafford Manor High School, and Kind Edward VI School to share their views on children’s safety online, as part of the Government’s national consultation on banning social media for under 16s. The session provided young people with a valuable opportunity to discuss social media, explore what works, what doesn't, and what they'd change.

Learners took part in group discussions and voted on key policy questions, including whether under-16s should be banned from social media, whether tech companies should be required to end infinite scroll, and who bears the greatest responsibility for keeping children safe online.

Craig Hodgson, Principal & Chief Executive of NSCG said: “This event provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage directly with decision-makers on a topic that is highly relevant to their lives. Encouraging learners to express their views and take part in meaningful discussions like this is an important part of developing active, informed individuals.”

Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall, and the Villages, said: "When we make decisions that affect young people, we should be making them with them, not to them. That's why I wanted to bring the Minister to Stafford, so that the students here could speak directly to the person helping to shape these policies. 

“I think it’s really important we create safe online environment, where companies are properly regulated and held accountable, and where children are supported to navigate the online world. Listening to the ideas and concerns from the young people at the event was such a vital perspective to take forward as the Government decides the best approach to do this.”

Kanishka Narayan, Minister AI and Online Safety, said: "Young people are the experts on their own online lives, and any policy on children's safety online has to start by listening to them. The students I met in Stafford were thoughtful, informed, and didn't shy away from the hard questions - on infinite scroll, on age limits, on who should be held responsible when things go wrong.

"I want to thank Leigh Ingham for bringing together young people from across Stafford to share their views, and every student who took part. What they told me today will directly inform how we approach the consultation on banning social media for under 16s, and the wider work we are doing to make the online world safer for children."

The session formed part of the Government's national conversation on children's digital wellbeing, launched in March 2026. The three-month consultation, which closes on 26 May, is seeking views from parents, young people, and educators on measures including potential age limits for social media, overnight curfews, and restrictions on addictive platform features such as autoplay and infinite scroll.