Government Vows Social Media Age Restrictions for Under-16s After Lords Push

The government is committed to implementing social media restrictions for under-16s, though ministers must "make sure it works" before introducing changes, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated. This follows the government's consultation on an outright ban, alongside other measures aimed at preventing teenagers from accessing addictive and harmful material.

Junior education minister Olivia Bailey previously indicated that the government would "impose some form of age or functionality restrictions" even if a complete ban is not enacted. Campaigners have advocated for an Australia-style ban on children's social media use, though the efficacy of such prohibitions remains debated.

Parliamentary Progress and Government Commitments

Monday saw a renewed confrontation between the government and the House of Lords over the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This legislation would grant ministers the authority to introduce comprehensive restrictions on social media usage. Peers have consistently pushed for a ban, voting for opposition amendments four times.

In an effort to resolve the impasse, the government proposed further amendments, including one that empowers ministers to implement a ban in the future, though not as swiftly as the Lords demanded. MPs subsequently supported these government changes by 272 votes to 64, returning the bill to the Lords for what is anticipated to be its final consideration before receiving royal assent.

On Monday, Ms Bailey affirmed the government's legal commitment to act once its consultation on restrictions concludes on 26 May. She told the Commons that "the status quo cannot continue" and confirmed that "under any outcome we will impose some form of age or functionality restrictions for children under 16," with consideration of curfews being an additional measure.

Focus on Harmful Design Features

The government's focus lies on "addictive features, harmful algorithmically-driven content and features." The precise nature of these restrictions, short of an outright ban, remains undefined. However, the consultation's queries regarding unrestricted access to AI chatbots and strengthened age verification rules may offer clues.

Increased scrutiny has also been directed at social media platforms' design features, such as endless scrolling and content refreshing, which are engineered to maximise engagement. These features were recently highlighted in a significant US social media addiction trial, where Instagram-owner Meta and YouTube were held liable for developing addictive platforms that negatively impacted a young woman's mental health.

Existing regulations under the Online Safety Act already mandate social platforms in the UK to demonstrate efforts to enhance children's safety. This includes assessing and mitigating risks posed by features like content recommendations and predictive search, and enforcing age requirements to provide age-appropriate experiences.

Some social media giants, including Meta, have swiftly implemented controls to comply with these rules and similar global regulations, aiming to preempt a potential ban for under-16s. However, numerous campaigners argue that current rules and actions fall short of providing the necessary protections for safer online experiences for children.

Ms Bailey indicated that a "progress report" would be issued three months after the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill receives royal assent, reflecting an intention to respond quickly to the consultation. She added that regulations are intended to be laid before the end of the year, although an exceptional six-month extension option exists, requiring parliamentary justification.