UK Explore Social Media Ban on Under-16s under Online Safety Act

According to Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, the UK government is planning to ban the under 16 kids on social media. Kyle disclosed in a recent interview with BBC Radio 4 that the government is seeking an Australian-style ban. This ban will control the under 16 kids’ access to social media forums. He further highlighted that “everything is on the table” when it comes to defending our young kids from digital harm. 

Interestingly, the recent statement resonates with the government’s huge efforts to ensure the Kids Online Safety Act. The OSA is part of legislation approved in 2023 to improve digital security for kids and adults. The main purpose of this Act is to appoint the hard duties on social media forums and search engines to reinforce a secure virtual environment. One of the main factors of the Act demands that companies execute “age assurance technologies” for proper age verification. This process will ensure that under 13 kids are secured from the dangerous content and digital illegal interactions.

UK Contemplates Social Media Ban on Children

UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said his government will be conducting an assessment of the feasibility of banning social media for children under 16 years old. This is part of the broader effort by the government to implement the Online Safety Act, which is focused on effectively dealing with online harms like cyberbullying, scams, and harmful content. By following the Act, the social media forums will have to remove the illegal content and certify a secure landscape for minor users. The study will gather peer-reviewed data to support decisions on restricting social media access, alongside measures to hold platforms accountable for user safety.

One of the UK’s communication regulators, Ofcom will check the Acts’ enforcement that involves prominent punishments for rule-breaking companies. Furthermore, the government is aiming to reinforce that online spaces are secure for kids by increasing age verification systems and offering tools for users to restrict abusive content. This is underpinned by concerns about the mental health effects of social media on children, with a wider objective of implementing much more comprehensive, evidence-based policies for online safety. The government is also committed to encouraging innovation in safety technologies and promoting greater transparency from platforms.