Parenting advice on social media is often poor quality, says Phillipson

The article discusses the concerns raised by the UK Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, regarding the quality of parenting advice found on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Phillipson warned that parents who turn to social media "influencers" and "gurus" for advice on important topics, such as potty training and childhood vaccination, risk being exposed to misleading and poor-quality information. The article notes that Phillipson's comments came during the launch of the government's "Best Start in Life" campaign, which has been compared to the previous Labour government's Sure Start program, widely regarded as a significant achievement in early years policy. The campaign aims to provide parents with reliable and evidence-based advice to support their children's development and well-being. The article suggests that the Education Secretary's remarks highlight the potential risks of relying on unverified information from social media sources, particularly when it comes to important parenting decisions that can have significant implications for a child's health and development.