Phillipson Warns Parents Over Poor Quality Online Advice

Published: 14 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Parents seeking guidance from social media influencers and online “parenting experts” are being exposed to poor quality and misleading information, education secretary Bridget Phillipson has warned. Speaking at the launch of the government’s new Best Start in Life campaign, Phillipson urged families to rely on credible, evidence-based sources rather than viral advice circulating on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

The initiative, described by some as “Sure Start Mark 2,” aims to revive and expand the principles of the Labour government’s early years policy, once hailed as one of its greatest achievements. During a visit to a family hub in Peterborough, Phillipson said she understood why parents — especially those in disadvantaged communities — were turning online for help but cautioned that much of what they found could be inaccurate or even harmful.

“Becoming a parent for the first time can be incredibly isolating and lonely,” she said. “It’s understandable that parents seek support online, but some of that information can really vary in quality. Some of it is poor or misleading, and I’m concerned that conflicting advice makes parents question whether they’re doing the right thing.”

Government research commissioned to coincide with the campaign paints a stark picture. A third of parents with children under four said they are now heavily reliant on social media for parenting advice. Meanwhile, 69% of those surveyed reported feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available, and 68% said they struggled to trust what they read online.

More than half admitted they were unsure where to find credible guidance, while a similar number confessed to delaying decisions about their children’s health or development because of doubts about the reliability of online advice.

Officials at the Department for Education expressed concern about viral posts promoting unverified “miracle” parenting fixes or psychological theories with no scientific grounding. One example cited was a viral Facebook video in which a self-proclaimed parenting expert with over a million followers advised parents to avoid saying “stop running” or “don’t sit like that,” claiming it damages children’s self-esteem. Another widely shared Instagram post suggested that “parents who empathise instead of criticise are creating a better society,” implying that setting rules or boundaries was harmful.

In more serious cases, Phillipson warned that misinformation could have public health consequences. One in five children in England, she noted, now begin primary school without full protection from preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough — a decline partly attributed to false claims about vaccines spreading online.

“I want to make sure parents have access to high-quality, impartial material, including around health,” Phillipson said. “That must include clear, trustworthy information about the importance of vaccination.”

The Best Start in Life campaign seeks to address those gaps by creating a one-stop website offering accessible, evidence-backed advice on everything from pregnancy and breastfeeding to toddler sleep, speech, and dental care. The government also plans to invest £500 million to roll out up to 1,000 family hubs nationwide by April 2026, providing in-person support for parents alongside a digital resource hub.

The scheme expands on a broader package of support, including free school breakfast clubs, thousands of nursery places based in schools, and continued funding for the holiday activities and food programme for children from low-income families.

Phillipson, who is also running for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, said the government’s goal was not just to replicate the achievements of Sure Start but to create a version that would endure.

“The tragedy of Sure Start was that it was so easy for the Conservatives to dismantle,” she said, referring to the more than 1,300 centres that closed between 2010 and 2022 following deep funding cuts. “What I will build through Best Start family hubs will stand the test of time — a legacy that won’t be dismantled and that puts children at the heart of our national life.”

As misinformation continues to flood social media feeds, Phillipson’s warning serves as both a reminder and a call to action: that in an age of online noise, credible, accessible advice for parents is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.