Government vows to bring in under-16 social media restrictions by end of year

The UK government is introducing new measures for children under 16 on social media by the end of the year. A consultation is ending, and a response is expected in summer. Options include banning social media for children, similar to Australia, alongside other restrictions such as night-time curfews and disabling features like auto-play and infinite scroll. The government is also considering strengthening enforcement of age checks and reviewing children’s access to AI chatbots. Trials of measures such as app curfews and stronger age checks have taken place in some UK homes. Campaigners are divided on whether an outright ban is the best approach, while bereaved families are urging faster action to raise the age of access for harmful platforms.

"“The question isn't whether we're going to act - we will,” Kendall told the BBC. She said the government's scope was looking at a broad range of issues and features and how these impact children. This could see the UK look more closely at platforms not covered by Australia's restrictions, such as Roblox and Discord. But Kendall said the government wanted to hear “all views” from the consultation, which closes at the end of Tuesday."

"Potential restrictions include night-time curfews or features such as auto-play and infinite scroll being disabled. People were also asked for opinions on children's access to AI chatbots, and if enforcement of age checks should be strengthened. Since March, the government has been asking parents and children if measures including app curfews and stronger age checks would improve online safety, and trialled these in some UK homes."

"Campaigners are split on whether an outright ban on social apps for children is the best approach. Since March, the government has been asking parents and children if measures including app curfews and stronger age checks would improve online safety, and trialled these in some UK homes. "We've got to get this right, and we've got to make it last," she added."

"Ellen Roome's son Jools died at the age of 14, in 2022. She is among bereaved families and campaigners who will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday to urge the government to demand he swiftly raises the age of access for social media platforms deemed harmful to 16. “Later today, I, and other families who have lost children to social media, will tell the prime minister directly: social media is a product, and like any other faulty product causing the deaths of children, it should be rest"

Read at www.bbc.com