A social media crackdown for children is expected within weeks, with new rules potentially presented before the Makerfield byelection next month. Responses to a public consultation are being analysed with support from an AI system called Consult and an expert panel led by a paediatrician. The consultation closes on Tuesday, and reforms could come into force before the end of the year. Changes may include age limits, restrictions on allegedly addictive design features, or both, affecting platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox, and Snap. The government faces internal concerns about possible legal challenges if the consultation process is not properly followed. Some child protection groups and school leaders oppose a blanket ban, citing risks of an online safety cliff edge.
"New limits on social media access for children could be presented before the Makerfield byelection next month after an avalanche of responses to a public consultation have been analysed with the help of an AI system called Consult and an expert panel led by an eminent paediatrician. The consultation closes on Tuesday. Age limits or changes to allegedly addictive design features or a combination of both would then come into force before the end of the year and could affect a wide range of platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, gaming sites like Roblox and messaging services like Snap."
"Starmer's promise to act fast came as his leadership rival, former health secretary, Wes Streeting, on Tuesday accused legislators of being asleep at the wheel on tackling social media harms. Streeting also compared the technology to smoking. The prime minister's spokesperson denied the government has moved too slowly. There are concerns inside government that reforms could be hit by a legal challenge if the consultation process is not properly followed."
"Over 42,000 parents and close to 14,000 young people were among over 81,000 respondents to the consultation which has included extensive lobbying by social media companies opposing changes to their algorithms. Technology secretary, Liz Kendall, said on Tuesday: No one's going to stop me from doing what I think is right. Kanishka Narayan, the online safety minister, is in Australia to investigate its under-16 social media ban, which has been in force for nearly six months."
"Some leading child protection groups reject a similar blanket ban fearing an online safety cliff edge. School leaders, represented by the National Association of Head Teachers, also came out against an outright ban."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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