Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Jacob Mantle

Conservative on Safe Social Media Act 2026-10-29

119 words · 8 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Tamara Jansen (Conservative)

“Madam Speaker, I have raised five teenagers, and one thing I have learned is that telling a teenager they cannot do something does not necessarily mean they will not do it. Sometimes it means they will get a whole lot better at hiding it. That is what worries me about banning social media for kids under 16. Of course, we want to protect our kids, but we also have to be realistic about how teenagers behave. If they find ways around a ban or end up on platforms that are even harder for parents to monitor, have we made them any safer? I wonder if we could end up making things worse for the kids we are trying to protect. Perhaps my colleague can speak to that.”

Statement grade

Average 94 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Procedure 19%Claims 50%The ask 14%The question 16%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Madam Speaker, Procedure · 16 wordsthat is a very important question. It raises the issue of the efficacy of this proposal.Procedure Claims · 12 wordsWhat we have seen is that there are mixed reviews of efficacy. Procedure · 7 wordsIf we look at the Australia model, ProcedureClaims · 48 wordswhich the government touts, a huge number of underage children access social media anyway through VPNs or other means.¹ There is also the issue of the number of users on platforms that would be regulated. There is evidence that children may migrate to smaller platforms that are unregulated. The ask · 17 wordsI think we have to consider whether the bill is achieving the reduction in harms it seeks. The question · 19 wordsOn the other hand, through the means it is choosing, is it harming people disproportionately on the other side?

At a glance

Lost points for
AnsweredOf this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 75

3 of 3 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “that is a very important question.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “It raises the issue of the efficacy of this proposal.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “If we look at the Australia model,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 3 deductions are Relevance

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the point put to the member, and the bill under debate.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 3 deductions are Respect

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Nothing lost points.

Clarity · 100

0 of 3 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 1

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“a huge number of underage children access social media anyway through VPNs or other means”In Australia, which the government touts as a model, a huge number of underage children access social media anyway through VPNs or other means.search

Analysed on 2026-10-31