Nish Kumar

Now, the scroll is something we're all afflicted by in our modern age, but how much damage is it actually doing to us? Reports vary, but one thing's for sure, it's proving very difficult for governments around the world to legislate against the effects social media is having on all of our lives.

Now, the scroll is something we're all afflicted by in our modern age, but how much damage is it actually doing to us? Reports vary, but one thing's for sure, it's proving very difficult for governments around the world to legislate against the effects social media is having on all of our lives.

Here in the UK, next week, Parliament will debate a petition that has received over 100,000 signatures that requests we follow suit and introduce similar restrictions for our young people. Joining us now to discuss what our government might do to make social media safer for all of us is Patricia Clark, technology reporter at Tortoise Media. Welcome to Pod Save the UK.

Here in the UK, next week, Parliament will debate a petition that has received over 100,000 signatures that requests we follow suit and introduce similar restrictions for our young people. Joining us now to discuss what our government might do to make social media safer for all of us is Patricia Clark, technology reporter at Tortoise Media. Welcome to Pod Save the UK.

No, there was a moment when Peter Powell... Sorry, it's really made me laugh that he just went, no.

No, there was a moment when Peter Powell... Sorry, it's really made me laugh that he just went, no.

Why did the government backtrack so quickly...

Why did the government backtrack so quickly...

From your perspective as a technology reporter, do you consider that to be useful and good piece of legislation? Because to be honest, the rest of us, a lot of the time, don't know what the fuck is going on in this.

From your perspective as a technology reporter, do you consider that to be useful and good piece of legislation? Because to be honest, the rest of us, a lot of the time, don't know what the fuck is going on in this.

What does practical action look like in this instance? Because I have two cousins that are themselves Australian children. They're 18 and 20. I think 20 is not a child. Well, they're children from my perspective. Anyone under 30 is a child from my perspective at this point. So they're exiting the period that we're really talking about.

What does practical action look like in this instance? Because I have two cousins that are themselves Australian children. They're 18 and 20. I think 20 is not a child. Well, they're children from my perspective. Anyone under 30 is a child from my perspective at this point. So they're exiting the period that we're really talking about.

the vulnerable teenage years, and they are now voting age adults. And I asked them about this, Bill, and I was quite surprised how in favour of it they were. Really? Yeah, they were very much of the opinion that they had observed harms done to them and their friends by being exposed to these things at younger ages.

the vulnerable teenage years, and they are now voting age adults. And I asked them about this, Bill, and I was quite surprised how in favour of it they were. Really? Yeah, they were very much of the opinion that they had observed harms done to them and their friends by being exposed to these things at younger ages.

But the point that they then raised is so much of their social lives are now driven through these apps.

But the point that they then raised is so much of their social lives are now driven through these apps.

That... there's a danger if you just suddenly remove them of actually isolating children further. If we've come to the conclusion, as we all have pretty much, that these things do harm to children, what are the actual practical measures that governments can take?

That... there's a danger if you just suddenly remove them of actually isolating children further. If we've come to the conclusion, as we all have pretty much, that these things do harm to children, what are the actual practical measures that governments can take?

To move on to a different area of online safety, last week there was a multinational AI summit in Paris where 60 countries signed a declaration of inclusive and sustainable artificial intelligence for all. Two countries were notably missing, the US and the UK.

To move on to a different area of online safety, last week there was a multinational AI summit in Paris where 60 countries signed a declaration of inclusive and sustainable artificial intelligence for all. Two countries were notably missing, the US and the UK.