Social media ban for under 16s ‘on the table’, says technology secretary

The technology secretary Peter Kyle has said a ban on social media for those under the age of 16 could be “on the table” to keep young people safe online.

Speaking to the BBC, Kyle said he would “do what it takes” to ensure the safety of children, adding that there would be additional research carried out into the effects that smartphones and social media are having on minors, as there is “no firm, peer-reviewed evidence.”

The ban would follow a similar move announced earlier this month in Australia.

The Australian government proposed new legislation which would ban social media for children under 16, adding that plans would be made to ensure that young people can continue to access a range of services such as educational websites.

The legislation aims to come into effect 12 months after approval, and it will be reviewed following its commencement.

Elsewhere, Kyle has also set out priorities for the online safety regulator, Ofcom, as it prepares to implement and enforce the laws set out in the Online Safety Act next year.

The Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) asks for safety to be built into platforms from the start to ensure harm is caught before it occurs. The SSP also asks for more transparency from technology companies on what harms are occurring on their platforms.

The government said Ofcom will have to consider each of the government’s strategic priorities as it enforces the Online Safety Act from next Spring. Ofcom will have to report back to the secretary of state on what action it has taken against the priorities to ensure the laws are delivering safer spaces online.

“While the Online Safety Act sets the foundation of creating better experiences online, we must keep pace with technology as it evolves to create a safer internet, especially for children,” Kyle said. “I am committed to using all the tools at our disposal from monitoring the impact of new laws, creating more and better evidence, and working with online safety campaigners and charities to achieve this goal.”