Actress Warns of Social Media's "Horror Film" for Teens

In the past week, actress Sophie Winkleman has spoken out about the challenges of parenting in the digital age. Winkleman, who is currently starring in the new BBC drama "Wild Cherry," has described being a teenager and a parent as "a different planet" compared to 20 years ago, largely due to the rise of social media.

Winkleman, who is known for her role as Big Suze in the comedy series Peep Show, has long been an advocate for protecting children and teenagers from the threats of smartphones and Big Tech. She believes that the plot of "Wild Cherry," which follows the drama surrounding two best friends and their teenage daughters, "highlights brilliantly what a horror film we're letting our young teens stumble into."

The actress, who is married to Lord Frederick Windsor and has two daughters of her own, says that classroom politics and relationships have been transformed by the constant presence of social media and messaging platforms. "I just think that every child has a right to be protected, and that has to come from the government," Winkleman asserts.

Winkleman's own experiences as a parent have made her a "noisy" advocate for limiting children's screen time and social media use. She has even reached out to other parents in her daughters' classes to encourage them to get involved in addressing these issues. Fortunately, Winkleman says that most of the other mothers have been "very supportive and proactive" in this effort.