Darlington MP begins second year of online safety forum

Representatives from every school in Darlington gathered at Longfield Academy on Friday (January 30), to kick off the second year of the Online Safety Forum.

Started by town MP Lola McEvoy in late 2024, the forum aims to use the voices of schoolchildren to shape government policy on social media.

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy at Longfield Academy in Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shocking findings from a forum survey last year revealed that sexual and age inappropriate content, violence and messages from unknown people is something hundreds of Darlington’s teenagers see on a daily basis.

The survey, which included more than 1,000 teenagers from the ages of 14 to 17, found that 71 per cent said they’d been contacted by strangers online and 60 per cent knew someone who’d been bullied or blackmailed online.

Now, the town’s MP is has widened the forum out to year seven pupils in a bid to hear more voices.

Ms McEvoy said: “Last year’s Darlington Online Safety Forum was extremely successful. I believe it genuinely helped shape government thinking on this crucial issue and in 2026 I am expecting this iteration of the Forum to be just as influential.

“Thanks to all the students and schools that made this event happen. This year, Year 7 joined to discuss their experiences, and it was clear that even people as young as them know the workarounds to the current system.

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy at Longfield Academy in Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“The Government is taking the right approach in consulting to ensure all voices are heard and I know the Secretary of State is keen to hear what the young people of Darlington have to say.

“Online safety is one of the most pressing issues we’re facing as a society and it’s blindingly obvious we’ve got to take action to protect young people online.

“Young people just want a safe place to virtually be with their friends and I am proud that Darlington is leading from the front to deliver that.”

As reported, a total of 600 teenagers said they had seen explicit and age inappropriate content on social media last year, results described as “shocking” and “unacceptable” by Ms McEvoy.

A collection of students from Darlington’s secondary schools were able to discuss the results in a round table, where they argued reports about harmful content “are not taken as seriously as they should be”.

And, when that harmful content is seen, many “scroll past it, but it comes back”.

Currently, the Government is consulting on measures to bolster children’s wellbeing online, which could include a minimum age to access social media and removing features thought to be addictive.

A ban for under 16s on social media has been backed by numerous MPs including Bishop Auckland MP Sam Rushworth.