𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy has provided an update on whether the UK government might follow Australia’s example by introducing a social media ban for under-16s. Speaking to presenter Sophy Ridge on Sky News this morning (December 10), the Labour MP stated: “Young people are really struggling”.

Australia has enacted groundbreaking legislation, the first globally, which bars children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms. The law came into force today, placing responsibility on social media firms to enforce compliance rather than children or their guardians.

The prohibition covers ten significant platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X (previously Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Kick (a streaming service), and Twitch (another streaming service). Several other widely-used platforms remain exempt for now, including WhatsApp, Messenger, YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, Roblox, and LinkedIn.

Social media corporations must implement “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from establishing accounts. This requires them to remove any current accounts belonging to underage users and prevent fresh registrations.

Firms that breach this legislation severely or on multiple occasions could face penalties reaching A$49.5 million (£24.7 million), reports the Mirror.

For age verification purposes, platforms are employing various approaches since no single technique proves sufficient for confirming users’ ages.

These approaches include facial age assessment (including video selfies), AI age detection (which examines behavioural patterns), government identification uploads (such as passports or driving licences), and banking card verification.

The Australian authorities aim to shield youngsters from social media hazards, including online bullying, damaging material, and adverse mental health impacts.

However, certain detractors argue that this prohibition could drive teenagers towards more dangerous online spaces, isolate them from vital support networks (particularly those in remote locations or LGBTQ+ groups), and that age verification systems may be unreliable whilst creating privacy concerns.

During Lisa Nandy’s discussion with Sophy Ridge, she revealed the UK government’s efforts to support young people during a social media emergency.

“Obviously we are keeping a very close eye on the way this is playing out in Australia,” she declared.

The MP further recognised that “young people are really struggling with the amount of time that they spend online and what is happening to them online”.

Ridge subsequently enquired whether the UK government is contemplating implementing a social media prohibition for those under 16 years of age. Updating viewers on the government’s current stance, Nandy stated: “We are not planning to introduce this.”

However, she added: “But it doesn’t mean that we’ve closed our minds to further action.”

The MP warns that a social media ban could inadvertently drive young people towards “other places and spaces”.

The minister insists the government is not taking a lax approach to this issue, revealing that £500 million is being channelled into the youth strategy. “We’ve got young people who are online, they’ve grown up entirely as an online generation for the first time,” Nandy explained.

“And they are not only the most connected generation in history, but they’re also the most isolated. That is the stark challenge that we’re having to confront. So giving every young person in this country places to go, things to do, and people who they trust, who can help them to navigate the complex system of growing up today is, I believe, the right approach.”

The UK government has not imposed a blanket ban on social media for children under 16. Instead, ministers are focusing their efforts on the Online Safety Act (OSA) 2023.

This legislation mandates social media platforms to take more robust measures to protect children from harmful content. They are required to implement improved age verification processes, modify their algorithms, and enforce stricter rules against issues such as self-harm and violence.

While some are advocating for a complete prohibition, the government has stated that ‘everything is on the table’ regarding future actions. At present, their focus lies in holding corporations accountable via Ofcom and considering strategies such as ‘app caps’. The primary objective is to enforce stringent regulations rather than implement an outright ban.

Key actions under the Online Safety Act:

• Platforms must use strong age checks (like facial scans or ID) to stop kids from accessing harmful content like pornography or content promoting self-harm/eating disorders.
• Companies must actively mitigate risks, remove illegal content, and refine algorithms to ensure they are safer for children.
• The regulator, Ofcom, is enforcing these duties, with platforms facing large fines for non-compliance.