The UK government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is reportedly considering a crackdown on social media access for children under the age of 16, potentially including bans, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Ministers are said to be planning a consultation starting in January to assess the potential harm to children from using social media. Although bans are under discussion, they may not be part of the final plan, and other measures like improved parental controls have not been ruled out. The UK recently passed the Online Safety Act to enhance the responsibility of companies in protecting users, particularly children, online.
The National Crime Agency has warned British parents about allowing their children on Facebook, expressing concerns about their safety due to Meta’s decision to introduce encrypted messaging. Damian Hinds, the schools minister, called on Meta to reconsider, emphasizing the importance of intercepting and investigating those engaged in child abuse.
While discussing the issue of keeping children safe online, Sunak’s spokeswoman, Camilla Marshall, did not comment on specific measures but acknowledged a broad examination of the matter.
The potential crackdown comes amid rising concerns about the impact of social media on young users, including issues related to mental health, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content. The move aligns with broader efforts to regulate the digital space, as demonstrated by the passage of the Online Safety Act.
Prime Minister Sunak is set to attend a political party convention in Rome, along with Elon Musk, although no formal meeting between Sunak and the owner of X (formerly Twitter) is currently planned. The discussions on social media restrictions for children are part of ongoing efforts to address online safety and security concerns, reflecting a global trend toward increased scrutiny and regulation of tech platforms.