The government is committed to following the evidence, and these powers will mean we can act fast on [the consultation] findings within months, rather than waiting years for new primary legislation every time technology evolves. This approach enables rapid response to emerging digital safety challenges without prolonged legislative delays.
A ban on students using mobile phones during the school day has been backed by the House of Lords. A Tory amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill passed with 178 votes to 140, and comes just weeks after opposition peers supported legislation to ban under-16s in the UK from social media platforms. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has previously advised schools that they should be phone-free during school hours, but the guidance lacks legal force.
Malaysia plans to ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting from next year, joining a growing list of countries choosing to limit access to digital platforms due to concerns about child safety. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday the government was reviewing mechanisms used to impose age restrictions for social media use in Australia and other nations, citing a need to protect youths from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams and child sexual abuse.