Minister Considers Speculated Social Media Ban for Under-16s Amid Growing Concerns
Addressing the notion of imposing a social media ban on individuals under 16, Science Minister Andrew Griffith has characterized the idea as “speculation.” While refuting specific reports suggesting a potential restriction on social media access for young users, Griffith underscored the government’s ongoing commitment to scrutinizing the necessity of safeguarding children within the digital sphere.
Ministers have reportedly been discussing the impact sites such as TikTok and Instagram have on young people’s wellbeing, and that under future plans, they may be forced to seek their parents’ permission before using the social networks.
Asked by Sky News whether such proposals could ever be enforceable, Mr Griffith said: “Well, we’re talking about speculation.”
He said the government had already passed the Online Safety Act that “makes sure that those activities which are illegal offline are now also illegal online”.
However, he went on to say there were “genuine harms” on social media alongside the “good things”.
“I understand as a parent myself that parents feel very strongly about the need to protect our children from some of the ills in society that have been running rampant in the past on social media,” he said.
“We’ve already taken action, and it’s right that we continue to look at that. I don’t think you’re ever going to say that job is done.
“So the speculation is about a potential consultation in the new year.”
Pushed on whether a consultation was happening, he said: “I don’t think any of us know what’s happening and I wouldn’t comment on future consultations at this point in time.”
The implementation of the Online Safety Act in October marked a significant stride toward positioning the UK as “the safest place in the world to be online.” This legislation holds companies like Meta and Apple accountable, mandating stringent regulations to prevent the dissemination of inappropriate and potentially harmful content targeting young and vulnerable individuals. Notably, this includes content that glorifies or encourages suicide or self-harm, a concern underscored by a coroner’s ruling last year linking such material to the tragic death of teenager Molly Russell.
The comprehensive scope of the Act extends to ensuring platforms bear responsibility for combating illegal content, notably concerning issues like child sexual abuse imagery. Moreover, the legislation aims to enforce stricter age verification measures on adult websites while preventing underage individuals from creating social media accounts. Oversight and enforcement of these regulations fall under the purview of media regulator Ofcom, with companies facing substantial fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their annual global turnover, depending on which is greater, for non-compliance.
Furthermore, both firms and their senior managers could face criminal liability if found negligent in adequately safeguarding children. In extreme scenarios, platforms may even face the prospect of complete expulsion from operating within the UK, emphasizing the severity of consequences for non-adherence to these regulations.
