In the UK, the government is preparing to launch a consultation on such a ban. This ban would legally limit social media platform usage for children under the age of 16. Indeed, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has promised her party’s deep love for this policy. They promised a national ban on oil and gas leasing if they take back power. As such, the proposed legislation is an important step toward shielding children from the adverse effects of social media platforms. It follows the introduction of an identical law adopted in Australia back in December 2022.
This move to regulate social media comes after calls from various stakeholders, including Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey, who urged the government to take action on social media regulation. Ghey said she felt vulnerable kids needed social media to be able to search for support and community. She highlighted the limitations social media imposed on her daughter’s real-world interactions, stating, “In Brianna’s case, social media limited her ability to engage in real-world social interactions. She had real friends, but she chose to live online instead.”
Ghey’s concerns have raised a call to action. By encouraging this action, more than 60 Labour MPs moved to remind Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the urgent need for social media regulation. Munira Wilson, the Lib Dem education spokesperson, announced that time is running out. She reiterated that we have “zero time to waste” in safeguarding children from the possible harms brought on by Big Social Media. She criticized the government’s consultation process as potentially ineffective, stating, “This consultation risks kicking the can down the road yet again.”
The impact social media is having on children’s safety and mental health has captured the focus of lawmakers, policy experts, and advocates. Professor Amy Orben noted a “broad agreement” among specialists that increased measures are necessary to ensure children’s safety in digital spaces. Dr. Bear warned that evidence on the impacts of a social media ban is still developing. She underscored that Congress needs to test this policy through rigorous research before moving forward and understood its potential impact.
Read Technology Secretary Liz Kendall’s response to the consultations. She reiterated repeatedly that the Online Safety Act “was never designed to be the end point.” She emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that technology enhances children’s lives rather than harms them, declaring, “We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them – and to give every child the childhood they deserve.”
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, expressed eagerness for the consultation to go forward. He believes it is an important first step towards better protecting our children from online predators. Similarly, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of a union, welcomed the discussion on a potential ban as a vital move for child safety.
Though many push for heavy-handed regulations, some warn against one-size-fits-all bans. The NSPCC, Childnet, and the Molly Rose Foundation together raised an alarm. They warned that such measures could lead to a misplaced feeling of security and just drive kids and online dangers to other, darker corners of the web. They stated, “Though well-intentioned, blanket bans on social media would fail to deliver the improvement in children’s safety and wellbeing that they so urgently need.”
The consultation will provide an opportunity for parents, educators and experts to express their views on the regulations being proposed. The UK government expects to respond to the results of this consultation by summer 2024.