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The primary duty of any government is to keep its citizens safe - and this includes the online safety of children. Growing up has never been easy, but the arrival of the internet, smartphones with cameras and social media has made this even harder.

Alongside other policy suggestions, Smartphone Free Childhood is advocating for a rise in the minimum age restriction on social media platforms to 16, a ban on smartphones for all primary and secondary schools, to push for a consultation on proposals and to call for clear timeline for enforcing the existing child safety requirements in the Online Safety Act

I share the concern about the issue of online safety, and I am open-minded as to what further measures need to be taken.

I agree that we need to make sure that the powers that already exist are in use. I have supported repeated calls on the Government to take tougher action and to stop the crucial protections in the Online Safety Act being delayed. The swift and full implementation of this Act is incredibly important.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: The son of the photographer begins the new school term of 2021 at home by watching an online introduction from his teacher, on January 05, 2021 in London, England. All primary and secondary schools have now closed until at least mid-February, with GCSE and A-level exams facing cancellation for a second year. British Prime Minister made a national television address on Monday evening announcing England is to enter its third lockdown of the covid-19 pandemic. On Monday the UK recorded more than 50,000 new confirmed Covid cases for the seventh day in a row. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

This is not the result of bad luck, but design. Not because the Tories wake up every day wanting to harm our children, but because of the inability of this government to form any kind of medium or long-term strategy.

It was welcome to see Ofcom’s new proposals for keeping children safe online announced, which includes strong age checks and tackling algorithms which target young minds. These protections should have been in place years ago. Ofcom has now opened a consultation on its proposals, which is expected to close in July this year.

It is also key to ensure that children and young people have the mental health support they need. I want to see an open access children and young people’s mental health hub in every community. I also support plans to introduce specialist mental health in every school. I further believe that digital literacy should be embedded in the curriculum, giving young people the critical tools, they need to deal with online hate and misinformation.

Outside of school, quality youth and community services are important for young people. I support the idea of developing a national network of Young Futures hubs to bring local services together, delivering support for teenagers at risk of being drawn into crime or facing mental health challenges and, where appropriate, deliver universal youth provision.

Britain’s young people deserve the best start in life. For children, being healthy and happy should not be a ‘nice to have’, but a basic right.

Our children’s future will be on the ballot paper at the election this year. So will the future of the NHS, and that election cannot come soon enough for me.

Yvonne Fovargue CBE MP: online safety of children