Westminster is exploring new regulations on social media usage by under-16s, following recent efforts in this area by Australia.
The UK government is considering a series of measures aimed at enhancing the online safety of minors. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has expressed an open-minded approach toward the potential legislative changes.
The pivot towards reassessing age restrictions on social media usage comes amidst growing concerns about online safety. Recently, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to increase the minimum age for social media access to 16, citing parental concerns over child safety online. The Australian model is being studied closely by UK officials as they contemplate implementing similar measures.
However, the specifics regarding age verification technology remain under discussion, with recommendations ranging from third-party assessments to assigning more responsibility to app stores like Apple and Google.
At present, most social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old. However, a report by the UK regulator Ofcom indicates that these regulations are frequently not enforced, with nearly 51% of children under 13 using these platforms. The report highlighted the prevalent use of social media among even the youngest demographics, with 34% of children aged between 3-7 accessing social media, and over 60% of 8-11 year-olds actively using these platforms.
The issue of enforcing age restrictions continues to be a focal point for the government, which has already enacted the Online Safety Act, granting new powers to Ofcom, the communications regulator, to hold social media firms accountable. However, the full implementation of this Act may not be realised until the latter part of 2025, sparking criticism over the delayed protection for children.
Current debates in the UK Parliament have been invigorated by Labour MP Josh MacAlister, who introduced a private member’s bill proposing the rise of the internet adulthood age from 13 to 16, along with the statutory prohibition of mobile phones in educational settings. Nonetheless, such bills often require government backing to become law. While the government has expressed interest in reviewing age restrictions on social media access, it appears less inclined to endorse a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools, pointing out that headteachers already possess the authority to implement such measures.
Source: Noah Wire Services
More on this & verification
- https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/uk-online-safety-bill-will-mandate-dangerous-age-verification-much-web – This article explains the UK’s Online Safety Bill, including the mandate for age verification to prevent minors from accessing harmful content, and the roles of Ofcom in enforcing these regulations.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer – This explainer from the UK government details the Online Safety Act, including its provisions for protecting children from harmful content, enforcing age limits, and the duties of social media companies.
- https://www.yoti.com/blog/understanding-age-verification-online-safety-act/ – This blog post discusses the age verification requirements in the Online Safety Act, including the use of age assurance technologies and the impact on social media platforms and tech companies.
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/a-guide-to-the-online-safety-bill – This guide outlines how the Online Safety Bill will protect children by enforcing age limits, removing harmful content, and providing transparent risk assessments, as well as the enforcement powers of Ofcom.
- https://www.barnardos.org.uk/blog/what-online-safety-act-and-how-will-it-impact-children – This article from Barnardo’s explains the Online Safety Act’s measures to protect children, including age assurance, risk assessments, and the removal of harmful content.
- https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/uk-online-safety-bill-will-mandate-dangerous-age-verification-much-web – This article highlights the concerns and criticisms around the implementation of age verification and its potential impact on privacy and data security.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer – This explainer mentions the delayed full implementation of the Online Safety Act and the ongoing discussions about its effectiveness in protecting children.
- https://www.yoti.com/blog/understanding-age-verification-online-safety-act/ – This blog post discusses the various technologies and methods for age verification, including facial age estimation and digital identity wallets, and their implications for social media platforms.
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/a-guide-to-the-online-safety-bill – This guide details the enforcement mechanisms, including fines and criminal actions, that Ofcom can take against companies that fail to comply with the Online Safety Bill’s requirements.
- https://www.barnardos.org.uk/blog/what-online-safety-act-and-how-will-it-impact-children – This article mentions the introduction of new criminal offences and the rights given to bereaved parents to access their child’s data, highlighting the broader scope of the Online Safety Act.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer – This explainer discusses the balance between safeguarding children and ensuring technological access, reflecting the ongoing debates and considerations within the UK government and society.
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