Jo White MP
BASSETLAW'S STRONG VOICE
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It is an honour and a privilege to have been elected to serve the people of Bassetlaw as your Member of Parliament.
I want to be an MP who listens and understands the issues that matter to you. Please do sign up to receive my regular email newsletter and surveys. If you need my assistance, you can contact me using the form below.
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As your local MP, I am here to help. You can contact me using the form below or you can email me: [email protected]
- 01909 212171
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LATEST NEWS FROM JO
CAMPAIGNS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Yesterday I visited Panattoni Park Central A1[M] 🧱
This site is a huge opportunity for Bassetlaw. not just because of its size, but because of what it could mean for local people⭐️
While the site is currently vacant, it has the potential to bring all sorts of jobs for local people across Bassetlaw. These could include warehouse roles, office-based jobs, engineering, and management🧑💼
![Yesterday I visited Panattoni Park Central A1[M] 🧱
This site is a huge opportunity for Bassetlaw. not just because of its size, but because of what it could mean for local people⭐️
While the site is currently vacant, it has the potential to bring all sorts of jobs for local people across Bassetlaw. These could include warehouse roles, office-based jobs, engineering, and management🧑💼](https://www.jowhite.uk/wp-content/plugins/custom-facebook-feed-pro/assets/img/placeholder.png)
This morning I held a coffee morning in Misterton, and it was great to see so many of you there.
Thank you to everyone who came along to chat and share what matters to you. I’ll be visiting all areas across Bassetlaw so everyone has the chance to come to a coffee event.
Last Sunday, I was on BBC Politics East Midlands speaking up for Bassetlaw.
I challenged the Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council over false claims about council tax rises that were pushed out in Bassetlaw before the election.
The truth is this Government has given Nottinghamshire County Council a 30% funding increase, that’s £234 million.
People in Bassetlaw deserve to see this money making a real difference, like fixing potholes and improving local services
📱This week's column: Should Social Media Be Banned for Under-16s? 📱
Social media is now part of daily life for most people. It helps us keep in touch with friends and family, follow the latest news and feel part of what's going on in our local community.
When used in the right way, social media is a good thing. But the impacts on our children and young people are not always positive.
I have been contacted by a huge number of parents in Bassetlaw recently following the decision by the Australian government to ban social media for under 16 year olds. Social media companies are facing large fines if they fail to prevent children from using their platforms. The House of Lords recently voted for such a ban in the UK.
I have visited many schools across Bassetlaw in the last 18 months, and teachers have told me again and again how social media can be harmful to children’s social skills. They tell me young people are spending too much time on screens and not enough time talking, playing, and learning how to deal with the ups and downs of real life. This does not prepare them well for adulthood or the workplace.
Many schools already ban phones and social media during the school day, but problems that begin online do not stop at the school gate. Teachers are forced to manage the fallout from things that happen late at night and at home, distracting pupils and teachers from learning and teaching.
I have heard worrying stories about children losing sleep because they cannot stop scrolling. Others feel lonely, even though they are constantly connected. Parents have also raised concerns with me about children being exposed to harmful or extreme content that social media companies do not control well enough.
I am under no illusions that banning social media for children would not be a quick and easy fix. That is why any change must come with better alternatives. Children and teenagers need safe places to go, things to do, and chances to spend time together away from screens, and this will require finances and preparation.
The Government is already taking steps in this direction, and has promised up to 250 new or improved youth centres, 50 Young Futures Hubs, and extra support for youth workers, backed by £500 million of investment. For the first time in 15 years, there is also a new National Youth Strategy to improve young people’s lives over the next decade.
I am minded to support a social media ban for children aged under 16, but I want to hear your views on this. Please do complete my online survey. I want to hear from as many parents as possible:
www.jowhite.uk/social-media-survey
www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/opinion/political-opinion-jo-white-mp-column-vision-for-youth-supp...