Government considering social media ban for teenagers

Under-16s could be banned from social media if companies do not take action to protect children, the Technology Secretary has said.

Peter Kyle said a ban was 'on the table' as he told Ofcom to be more assertive with tech firms. It comes as new legal powers in the Online Safety Act are set to come into force rom the start of 2025.

The Act will see new safety duties placed on social media platforms for the first time, requiring them to protect users, and in particular children, from harmful content. This will include a crackdown on under-13s having access to age-restricted content.

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Speaking to the Telegraph newspaper, Mr Kyle suggested the UK would have to move to “another level of regulation” if tech companies do not get together to enforce the Act. The Technology Secretary said he did not want to pursue further law changes until he sees how the Online Safety Act works.

But he signalled he had been speaking to politicians from Australia where social media restrictions for under-16s have been considered. Asked if the UK could push its age limits up to 16, Mr Kyle told the Telegraph: “When it comes to keeping young people safe, everything is on the table.”

As the Government prepares to enforce the Act, Mr Kyle has published for the first time a statement of strategic priorities for watchdog Ofcom.

This says Ofcom should ensure the concept of “safety by design” is being followed by platforms from the start so more harm is caught before it occurs, and pushes for more transparency from tech firms on what harms are occurring on their platforms.

It also urges them to create digital worlds which are inclusive and resilient to harm,