'Time to make the online world safer for children' – your letters, plus Denis Healey in the Midlands – a picture throwback

Have your say on online safety

The online world is now a major part of young people’s lives, and while it has incredible benefits, we know it comes with risks too.

Whether under-16s should have access to social media is a major source of debate in the UK at the moment, and the NSPCC is pleased to hear the Government is asking for people’s opinions as part of their Public Consultation which launched this week.

The status quo is not working for children, or for their parents who are desperate to keep them safe. Tech companies are failing to protect them from preventable risks and harms on social media platforms, gaming sites and AI tools.

This cannot be allowed to continue. We encourage parents, carers and children across the West Midlands to join the national consultation. Give your views, your first hand experience of the good and the bad of the online world, and help decide what happens next.

The NSPCC is calling for tech companies to keep under 13s off social media – a move which would immediately protect 2.5 million children – for platforms to stop using design tricks which keep young people addicted, and to block harmful content at the source. Making these crucial changes is in the power of Government, regulators and tech companies and more effective than a social media ban for under 16s. But at the same time, we recognise at the charity that a ban is better than doing nothing.

To have your say, go to gov.uk and search 'social media consultation'.

Chris Sherwood,  NSPCC

​Reform unfit to rule council

Reform have been running the county council since May 2025. Since then they have had three leaders.

Firstly Ian Cooper. He was expelled from the party in December 2025.

Secondly, Chris Large, group leader for the three months since then. He has now resigned from Reform.

Now enter Martin Murray as leader. How long will he last? Running a local government council ruling over a million citizens and with a public spend of over a billion pounds is a responsible and important job. The succession of malfeasance who Reform have produced for this task has been a true disaster and shows that they are totally unfit to do the job.

Francis Biard, Stafford

Lessons to learn from Dunblane

The Dunblane massacre was so shocking. My heart goes out to families affected as they mark the anniversary. It shows why we should strengthen gun laws further.

D Jones, Bridgnorth

Have an opinion? Want to be heard? We want to hear your voice!

Write to Readers' letters at [email protected]

Letters to the editor must include the writer’s name and address and will only be published anonymously in exceptional circumstances. The editor reserves the right to condense or amend letters.

Do you have any pictures from the past you would like to share with us? 

Do need help recognising an old street, old faces? If so, send them to [email protected] including your name, where you are from, and as much information as you can about the photo(s) and we will publish as many as we can online and in print.