‘Curfews overnight’ and even provisions regarding VPN use will also be considered as part of a consultation
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has issued an important update regarding a potential ban on social media access for anyone under 16. The message responds to an ongoing parliamentary petition demanding ‘strict age verification’ and legislation to hold ‘platforms accountable’ in an effort to protect ‘mental health and childhood’.
In a statement, the UK Government department highlighted the importance of this issue and thanked everyone who had signed the petition so far. It said that a consultation has now been launched to improve children’s safety, which includes ‘seeking views on a social media ban for children’.
The response issued yesterday (January 26) explained: “The government is launching a consultation and a national conversation to gather views and drive action to keep children safe online, including seeking views on a social media ban for children.
“I would like to thank all those who signed the petition on this important issue. This government is determined to seize the opportunities of technology and AI, so that we can shape a future that works for us all. Especially our children.
“But to do so, people must feel that their children are safe online. The Online Safety Act is one of the toughest regimes globally – it requires in-scope services to tackle illegal content and activity, and to protect children from harmful and age-appropriate content.”
A ‘short’ consultation on measures to keep children safe online was officially announced by the Government on January 20. This, accompanied by a ‘national conversation’, will consider ‘raising the digital age of consent’ and bans on social media for users under 16.
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‘Curfews overnight’, official breaks to stop ‘excessive use or doom scrolling’, and even provisions regarding VPN use will also be considered as part of the consultation.
The Government department further explained: “We will consult with parents, the organisations representing children and bereaved families, technology companies, and – crucially – with children and young people themselves, as well as those with lived experience with these issues. This will be an evidence-based consultation, with input from independent experts.
“We will also look closely at the experience in Australia and their ban on social media for under-16s. In addition, we are also bringing forward work on broader screen time. We are developing screen time guidance for children under five, which will be available from April of this year, and developing evidence-based screen time guidance for parents of children aged five to 16.
“There is a clear consensus that there are issues to tackle in regard to children’s use of social media, however there is a difference of opinion in how children’s relationship with social media and screentime should be further tackled.
“This is shown by some of the most prominent voices in this field believing that a social media ban is not the right answer. This is exactly why we are consulting. The government’s position is clear: we are acting swiftly to address the concerns that have been raised via this petition.”
The petition entitled ‘Ban social media for under-16s to protect children’ has now garnered over 70,000 signatures. Should it reach 100,000, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.
You can read the petition and its response in full at Parliament’s website here.
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