The government dropped measures to ban “legal but harmful” web content after critics said it amounted to legislating for “hurt feelings”.
But Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly killed herself after viewing self-harm content on the internet, said the decision was “very hard to understand” and amounted to a “watering down” of the protections promised.
He said: “What we need is the assurance from the Secretary of State that this watering down of the Bill by removing the legal but harmful content is at least boosted in other measures to make it safe for not just young people but for all of us to be online.
“I don’t see how you can see the removal of a whole clause as anything other than a watering down.”
Ms Donelan said she had taken a “common sense” approach to the Online Safety Bill that had been held back by the row over legal but harmful content.
She said protections for children have been strengthened and it would be a “gross misrepresentation” to argue otherwise.
“Nothing is getting watered down or taken out when it comes to children,” the Culture Secretary said.
“The legal but harmful aspect was pertaining to adults. Content that is harmful or could hurt children that is not illegal, so is legal, will still be removed under this version of the Bill.
“So the content that Molly Russell saw will not be allowed as a result of this Bill.”
Ms Donelan said the legislation will tackle the “absurd situation” of social media firms failing to enforce age restrictions meant to stop young children from using their sites.
Firms will also be made to to allow users to screen out certain content they do not wish to see.
Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said the changes would “embolden abusers, Covid deniers, hoaxers, who will feel encouraged to thrive online”.