Rishi Sunak-led UK government considers limiting, banning social media access for under-16 teens

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly contemplating measures to limit social media access for people under the age of 16, in a bid to safeguard them from potential online harm, as per a report by Bloomberg. Speculation suggests a potential ban might be in the offing, despite the recent enactment of the Online Safety Act, which mandates social media platforms to shield minors from harmful content, backed by fines up to 10 per cent of a company’s global revenue. In an upcoming consultation, which is set to start in the new year as reported by Bloomberg, the cabinet will delve into the risks posed to children using social media platforms. Although there is the possibility of a comple ban on social media for those under 16, a government spokesperson downplayed such notions, stating, “From our point of view, we’re looking at ways to empower parents rather than crack down on anything in particular. We’ve identified that there is a gap in research, so we’ll be looking at what more research into it needs to be done, but nothing is yet signed off by ministers,” as reported by The Guardian. The Molly Rose Foundation, established by the family of Molly Russell, who tragically took her own life at 14 after encountering harmful content on Instagram and Pinterest and was the victim of online bullying, emphasised the need to strengthen the role of the communications watchdog, Ofcom Andy Burrows, an adviser to the foundation, stressed, “Further measures are necessary to protect children from online risks, but the emphasis should firmly be on strengthening the regulator’s hand to ensure platforms are no longer awash with a set of avoidable dangers,” The Guardian report stated. Cross-bench peer and prominent advocate for children’s online safety, Beeban Kidron, expressed concerns over potential knee-jerk reactions, favoring the design of digital spaces that support teenagers rather than excluding them. Kidron remarked, “The vast majority of social media is designed in a way that makes it addictive, polarizing, and parades unrealistic lifestyles of desire – so it ends up being a lousy place to spend your teenage years,” as reported by The Guardian While the government’s deputy official spokesperson refrained from commenting on specific proposals, they affirmed, “We are looking broadly at this issue of keeping children safe online,” said the Bloomberg report Calls for robust online safety regulation have been persistent since 2017, which culminated in the creation of the Online Safety Act this autumn. The NSPCC children’s charity revealed that in the six years leading to the legislation, police recorded 34,400 online grooming crimes against children in the UK. Recent concerns about child safety on social media escalated following Meta’s decision to introduce encrypted messaging on Facebook, prompting the National Crime Agency to caution parents about potential risks. Policing minister Chris Philp criticized Meta’s move as “grossly irresponsible” and called for its immediate reversal to prevent hindrance in combating child abuse. UK’s Schools Minister Damian Hinds echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement agencies retaining the ability to intercept and investigate individuals engaging in child abuse, dismissing the issue as not merely about privacy but about ensuring child safety. (With inputs from agencies)