Recommendation 23

The Committee is clear that further research is needed on both the risks and dangers of social media, and gaming and hybrid platforms for those aged under 18, and the effectiveness of the measures that are needed to tackle and mitigate these pressing problems. As part of the implementation of the restrictions that we would like to see the Government bring in, it is important that, in order to assess the effectiveness of these new restrictions, there is a programme of Government-funded research, including provision for social media companies to grant independent researchers access to relevant internal data. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40)