Youth Select Committee publishes report investigating links between social media and youth violence
27 March 2025
The Youth Select Committee is an initiative led by the National Youth Agency, supported by the House of Commons, jointly funded by Parliament and the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport. The twelve committee members aged 14-19 are involved in various programmes and groups across the UK.
Recognising its impact and effects on young people and their communities, members of the Youth Select Committee agreed to investigate youth violence and social media, and how to prevent such violence.
The Committee held two oral evidence sessions in December 2024 and received 14 written evidence submissions.
Throughout the course of its inquiry, the Committee explored the need for regulation of social media, the role of schools and youth services in teaching online safety and digital literacy, as well as the role of the police - setting out a range of recommendations and actions for the Government and relevant authorities.
Chair of the Youth Select Committee, Wania, said:
“The inquiry has made one thing clear, that social media companies should do more to protect young people from violent and harmful content. The Committee believes that a social media ban, like in Australia, is neither practical nor effective. Instead, tech companies must be held accountable.”
- Read the full report: Youth Violence and Social Media (pdf, 2MB)
Learn more about the Youth Select Committee.
Next steps
Their report will now be sent to the Government for an official response following its launch at a House of Commons reception on Thursday 27 March 2025, attended by political and charity representatives.