The Lagan Valley MP will bring a Parliamentary debate to the House of Commons on Thursday (April 3) entitled the Impact of Digital Platforms on UK Democracy. It will call for the UK Government to review the age of consent for social media, introduce financial sanctions for companies which push harmful content and establish robust legislation to tackle the worst of social media.

“Digital platforms are warping our democracy and worryingly, the lives of our children and young people. The consequences are all too real and demand urgent action,” said Ms Eastwood.

“This debate is timely, given just this month we have seen a stark reminder of the harm these platforms enable through the programme Adolescence, which paints an accurate, disturbing portrayal of what is happening in many homes across the UK. But it is not an issue confined to one country, one background, or one ideology. While the names change, the pattern remains – a horrifying rate of violence, often against women and girls.

“We are failing a generation. From young women, who face unprecedented levels of online harassment, violence, and abuse, to young men, who are being radicalised in plain sight. This is not about free speech but rather about radicalisation by powerful actors exploiting young people, fuelling division and threatening our democracy.

“Elon Musk’s X pushes dangerous conspiracies, violent misogyny, and far-right disinformation, while keeping celebrity misogynists at the top of young men’s feeds. This and other similar platforms are not neutral, instead actively promoting and promoting from content that radicalises young men in particular.

“The UK Government is too slow, too weak and has too many vested interested to tackle this issue. I plead with them to get their priorities straight, instead of using outdated legislation and powerless regulators. Stand up to the Musks and Trumps of the world, and deprive them of their ability to dictate the terms of our public debate, while saving our young people from having their minds poisoned.”