Polly has launched a new survey inviting local residents to share their views on the impact of social media on teenagers and young people.
The survey aims to gather the experiences of parents, teachers and young people themselves, and to understand what action constituents believe the government should take to better protect young people online.
The launch follows growing concern about online harms, including recent revelations that an AI tool on Elon Musk’s X platform was being used to generate sexualised images of children and non-consensual “nudified” images of women. The incident prompted an investigation by Ofcom and has reignited national debate about online safety, platform accountability and the protection of young users.
Polly said:
“The recent revelations about the misuse of AI tools on social media platforms are horrifying, but sadly they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the harm being done online. While social media can be a force for good, it must never be allowed to put young people at risk or be used as a cover for illegal and abusive content.
“I want to hear directly from parents, teachers and young people in East Thanet about how social media is affecting their lives, and what they think the government should do next. Their voices are essential if we are going to get this right.”
The MP has also confirmed that she has deleted her own X account following the platform’s handling of the issue, describing it as “appalling” that such content was ever permitted and that action was resisted when concerns were first raised.
Polly has said she is actively considering whether to support a ban on social media for under-16s, an approach recently introduced in Australia. She said she was deeply concerned about body image pressures, exposure to pornography and harmful content, and growing evidence about impact of excessive social media use on young people’s cognitive development.
While the government considers further measures, Polly has welcomed recent commitments to online safety, including the Online Safety Act and new laws criminalising the creation and sharing of non-consensual intimate images. She has also warned against proposals by Reform UK to repeal existing protections without any plan for how to keep young people safe online.
“Keeping the internet safe for young people and women is a priority for me,” she added. “This survey will help ensure that the views of East Thanet residents are heard loud and clear in Parliament.”
Residents are encouraged to take part in the survey, which takes around five minutes to complete. Click the button below to complete it.