Technology Secretary Liz Kendall Vows Under-16 Social Media Restrictions by Year-End

The government's consultation on online safety for children, which sought input on measures such as app curfews and enhanced age checks, has now concluded. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed a response to the consultation would be issued this summer, with concrete actions to follow by year-end.

Campaigners Divided on Outright Ban for Under-16s

The prospect of an outright ban on social media applications for children has divided campaigners. Some, including police leaders, advocate for a ban on platforms that fail to remove features deemed harmful to under-16s. Bereaved families, such as Ellen Roome, whose son died at 14, are urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to raise the access age for platforms identified as detrimental to children's well-being. Lord Nash, a former Conservative education minister, pressed the government to honour its commitment to implement age or functionality restrictions swiftly.

Conversely, others argue that a ban would prove ineffective. Ian Russell, chair of the Molly Rose Foundation, has previously suggested enforcing existing online safety laws rather than resorting to what he termed 'sledgehammer techniques'. Concerns have also been raised regarding the efficacy of bans, citing reports of Australian children circumventing restrictions.

The consultation garnered 70,000 submissions from various organisations and individuals, providing views on potential restrictions, including night-time curfews and the disabling of features like auto-play and infinite scroll. Opinions were also sought on children's access to AI chatbots and the strengthening of age verification mechanisms.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has also called for action on youth social media use, submitting to the consultation that it poses a threat comparable to smoking. They recommend doctors routinely inquire about screen time and social media use during consultations with younger patients. However, a scientific consensus on the overall harm of screen time to children is lacking.

While the specific responses from tech platforms to the consultation remain unclear, Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, has indicated a preference for device-level age verification to prevent underage users from downloading certain applications. Kendall stated her resolve to implement measures regardless of potential opposition from major tech companies, asserting, 'No one's going to stop me from doing what I think is right for this country.'