A ban on social media for under-16s is being considered in the UK as the government seeks to strengthen online safety laws.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the measure was “on the table” and warned tech companies to take more steps to protect children.

The minister outlined his priorities for online safety regulator Ofcom as it prepares to implement and enforce the laws outlined in the Online Safety Act next year.

Social media has been blamed for an increase in children committing suicide and developing eating disorders due to bullying and exposure to negative body images.

What does the law provide?

The law will impose new safety obligations on social media platforms for the first time, requiring them to enforce age limits and protect users, particularly children, from harmful content.

This will include a crackdown on under-13s accessing age-restricted content.

Businesses will have three months from the guidance’s finalization to conduct risk assessments and make changes to protect users.

Platforms could face fines of up to £18 million from the watchdog if they fail to comply with the Online Safety Act’s rules when they come into force.

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Speaking to the Telegraph newspaper, Kyle suggested the UK should move to “another level of regulation” if tech companies don’t come together to enforce the law.

The Technology Secretary said he would not make further legislative changes until he understood how the Online Safety Act worked.

Asked if the UK could raise its age limit to 16, Kyle told the Telegraph: “When it comes to keeping young people safe, everything is on the table. »

The bill has drawn criticism from some groups, many of whom question how the policy will be enforced and whether it protects children.

Critics have argued that removing children from social media reduces platforms’ incentive to provide safer online environments.

What other countries do this?

Australia has unveiled world-first legislation that would ban children under 16 from accessing platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Australia plans to require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users, such as bullying, predatory behavior and algorithms pushing destructive content, under proposed changes to the Online Safety Act, the government said.

“The digital duty of care will place responsibility on digital platforms to proactively keep Australians safe and better prevent harm online,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the measures could become law late next year.

Australia is also testing an age verification system to prevent children from accessing social media platforms, part of a series of measures that include some of the strictest controls imposed by any country to date .

The technology secretary said he had already spoken to Australian politicians about the plans.

What’s next?

As the Government prepares to implement the law, Kyle has published a statement of strategic priorities for watchdog Ofcom for the first time.

This indicates that Ofcom should ensure that the concept of ‘security by design’ is followed by platforms from the outset so that more harm is detected before it occurs, and is pushing for more transparency from platforms. tech companies about the harm occurring on their platforms.

It also urges them to create digital worlds that are inclusive and resilient to harm, including misinformation.

Ofcom will also need to ensure it is “agile” in the way it regulates the sector by monitoring and tackling potential emerging dangers, such as AI, and adopting online safety technologies to also help improve user security.

The government said Ofcom will need to consider each of the priorities set out when enforcing the law and report on the steps it has taken to ensure safer online spaces are provided.

“Keeping children safe online is a priority for this government. “That’s why today I will be the first Secretary of State to exercise the authority to set my strategic priorities,” Kyle said.

He also announced that ministers would launch a research project aimed at helping him understand the impact of smartphones and social media use on children.

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What are the charities saying?

Ian Russell, chairman of the Molly Rose Foundation, said the new priorities offered some “course correction” for the Online Safety Act and would allow Ofcom to be “bolder”, but warned that more rule reforms were still needed.

The Molly Rose Foundation (MRF) was established by Russell and his family in memory of his daughter, Molly, who took her own life at the age of 14 in November 2017 after viewing harmful content on social media social.

“This announcement outlines a much-needed course correction that is vital to improving online safety and preventing the new regulations from falling far short of expectations,” he said.

“However, while this is an important milestone for Ofcom to be bolder, it is also abundantly clear that we need a new Online Safety Act to strengthen current structural gaps and focus minds on the importance of risk reduction.”

Maria Neophytou, director of strategy and knowledge at the NSPCC, said the new priorities have “the potential to change the online world for children”.

She added: “Through Childline, we hear from young people every day about the range of harm they experience online, including online harassment, access to content that encourages suicide and disorder. food, as well as the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

“Tech companies need to be transparent about the damage to their platforms. They should disrupt “safe havens” for offenders by tackling the hidden abuse that takes place via private messaging.

“It is right that the Government focuses on innovation and new technologies that can identify and disrupt abuse and prevent harm. »

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Our determination to create a safer online life for children and adults in the UK has never been stronger.

“We welcome the government’s draft statement on strategic priorities for online safety which, once finalized, will help shape this important work. »

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