All parents want their children to lead healthy, happy lives. And making sure children have the best start in life guides the decisions I make every day as Science and Technology Secretary. Whether that’s protecting them from the harms of the online world, preparing them for the future or using technology to help kids learn in school.
You’ve read and seen a lot in the last few weeks about how we’re taking action to ban social media platforms from offering services to under-16s.
But what they do offline is just as important.
Take obesity - one of the biggest health problems we face as a country which costs our NHS more than £9 billion every year. At the end of last year, we released new figures showing more than 10% of children in reception and 22% of those coming to the end of their time in primary school are living with the condition.
Those are the highest rates since records began 20 years ago.
In England, 18% of 16-24 year-olds are classified as overweight, along with more than 30% of adults between 55 and 74.
We're already taking action to end the UK's obesity pandemic - restricting junk food advertising on TV and online, consulting on banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s, and revising the School Food Standards to ensure every child has access to nutritious meals.
We're doing all that because, what’s clear to me, is that whether as children, teenagers, or adults, families simply aren’t getting the support they need to tackle the problem.
That's why we’re now going even further - launching 12 new projects in different parts of the country – using technology to give people easier access to obesity care.
In Kent, an AI-powered programme on WhatsApp will provide 3,300 families with round-the-clock guidance on healthy eating and exercise.
In Scotland, a new digital platform in Lanarkshire has been co-designed with patients and clinicians to give people access to a range of tools like dietary advice and physical activity information which will help them manage their weight.
And a project in Wales will make it easier for people to access help like local support groups and one-to-one advice - whether in English or in Welsh - through a new digital bilingual advice service. This will help break down one of the key barriers that can so often put people off looking for the help they need.
By tapping into technology, these pioneering projects will meet people where they are – whether through their local pharmacy, an app on their phone, or support in their own language.
For a parent trying to give their child the best start, or someone who has struggled to access help for years, that can make all the difference.
Though we’re starting with 12 targeted projects to begin with, the lessons we’ll learn through this programme will help reshape how we tackle obesity right across the country.
That’s how this government is putting technology to work to support families – giving them healthier lives, and the practical support they need, whenever and wherever they need it.