(Alliance News) – The UK government has said it will introduce “age or activity restrictions” on social media for under-16s, Education Minister Olivia Bailey said.
Bailey said the measures “will be put in place” regardless of the outcome of the current consultation on the harm to children on social media.
This government agreement comes after pressure from the House of Lords on this issue, led by Tory former education minister and academy founder John Nash.
Peers voted four times to pressure the Commons into accepting the ban.
The government had begun a consultation on technology access for under-16s, and had floated measures such as age restrictions on social media and other services such as gaming sites and artificial intelligence chats.
However, it did not make any firm commitments about the possible course of action.
Bailey told MPs: “On the remaining question about access to social media, we have listened carefully to the concerns raised in both Houses about the importance of the government taking immediate action once the consultation is complete.”
“The government has repeatedly said that it is a question of how, not if, but to put it beyond doubt, we are putting a legal requirement that the secretary of state must act after consultation.
“This is bringing in the rules without releasing the results of the consultation, and it ignores the tens of thousands of parents and children who have been involved with us.
“Let’s be clear, the current situation cannot continue.
“We are consulting on equipment, and that is what we have to do. But it is clear that under any outcome, we will put some kind of age restrictions or the performance of children under the age of 16.
“I can also assure you that the review of restrictions such as curfews will be added to, not replaced.”
The move was welcomed by Conservative shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott who said: “We now have a commitment from the floor of the house, from the government, that they will put an age limit on children under 16, and this is in addition to, not in place of, any curfews.
“This is a huge step forward in keeping children safe and supporting parents in the fight against screens that are destroying children’s lives.”
Trott added: “Every month the delay leaves children more exposed to harm on social media, so I urge the minister to keep his word today and make sure action is taken as quickly as possible.”
The proposed ban has been backed by campaigners, including Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was killed by two children in 2023.
Two days ago Prime Minister Keir Starmer told tech executives from X, Meta Platforms Inc, Snap, TikTok and Alphabet Inc’s Google – which owns YouTube – that changes were urgently needed.
The prime minister indicated that there may be measures to restrict children’s access to social media, despite growing concerns about their impact on their health and safety.
Starmer said: “Things cannot continue like this, they must change because social media is currently putting our children at risk.
“In a world where children are protected, even if that means access is limited, that’s better than a world where harm is the price of participation.”
Nash described the government agreement as “a huge step forward for our children’s online safety”.
He added: “Now we will all focus our attention – together – on making sure this is implemented as soon as possible in the best way to protect our children.
“Thank you to my colleagues in Makhosini who voted four times to ensure that this happens. But above all, I would like to thank the bereaved parents with whom I have campaigned.
“There was no need for them to do this, they did it so that no other family would have to live through what they have gone through, they made sure that because of that all the children in this country will be safe because of their work. I thank them very much.”
By Harry Taylor and Rhiannon James, Labor Political Media Association
source: PA
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