BBC The One Show presenter Alex Jones has made a candid admission about the one issue that truly keeps her awake at night: her children's online safety.
The Home Ban That Followed a Shock
Appearing as a guest on Friday's edition of BBC Morning Live alongside hosts Kym Marsh and Ugo Monye, the 48-year-old star opened up about a radical decision she and her husband, Charlie Thomson, have implemented at home. The conversation turned to the pressing topic of protecting children from inappropriate content online, a concern shared by all the presenters as parents.
Jones revealed that attending a talk by the charity Smartphone Free Childhood at her children's school was a pivotal moment. "We went to a talk... and my husband and I thought, 'We're gonna know what they're saying now,'" she shared. "But we had the shock of our lives."
That shock led to an immediate and firm household rule. "So, from that moment on, we just banned iPads and phones in our house - that was that," Jones stated emphatically.
A Widespread Worry for Parents
The television presenter, who is a mother to eight-year-old Teddy, six-year-old Kit, and four-year-old Annie, confessed the depth of her anxiety. "It's a real worry," she said. "It's the thing that keeps me awake at night actually, more than anything else."
Her co-host Ugo Monye was quick to affirm that her fears are far from unique. "You and many out there for sure," he responded, citing recent research that found how easily children, some as young as six, can encounter harmful content like pornography on social media.
How the Law is Stepping In
Kym Marsh continued the discussion by highlighting the government's response to this growing crisis: the updated Online Safety Act. This legislation, now in force, aims to offer extra protections for young users.
According to the government website, the Act imposes a new set of responsibilities on social media companies and search services, making them more accountable for user safety. The law requires these providers to:
- Establish systems and processes to minimise the risk of their services being used for illegal activity.
- Remove illegal content promptly when it does appear on their platforms.
The segment on the show also featured a pre-recorded piece by documentary maker Zara McDermott, who explored the effectiveness of these new safety rules in practice.
As parents like Alex Jones take matters into their own hands at home, the new legislation represents a broader effort to create a safer digital environment for the UK's children.
