Children in the UK will face restrictions on their use of social media, but the government remains open-minded about what form the limits will take, according to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. In an interview on Tuesday, she expressed concerns about the content under-16s are exposed to online and the excessive screen time they endure.
Government Position on Social Media Limits
Phillipson told broadcasters that it is not a question of whether further action will be taken to protect young people, but rather the shape of that action. She emphasized that there are a range of sincerely held views from campaigners and families on how to get this right. The government is considering measures such as age restrictions on social media, gaming sites, and AI chatbots, but has not made firm commitments until a late intervention during parliamentary proceedings on the children's wellbeing and schools bill.
Consultation and Legislative Steps
On Monday night, Education Minister Olivia Bailey confirmed to the Commons that the government will impose some form of age or functionality restrictions for children under 16, following a consultation. She stated that the status quo cannot continue and that the government is clear that under any outcome, restrictions will be imposed. This concession came after pressure from the House of Lords, led by Tory former education minister John Nash, who pushed for an outright ban.
Phillipson emphasized the need for effective measures that stand the test of time. She noted that the government is open to different approaches and is consulting widely to ensure the actions taken are effective in keeping children safe online.
Support for a Ban
A proposed ban has gained support from campaigners, including Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers in 2023. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently met with tech executives from X, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and Google to urge urgent changes.
