The notion to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms in the UK is a matter of active discussion according to Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, he pointed out that the wellbeing of minors on the internet comes first, and promised to do everything to protect them.
Kyle has pointed out that this proposal is not an isolated one, and should be viewed as a part of the ongoing discourse on digital regulation with a clear purpose, which social media and smartphone use among young people calls for evidence.
The government’s outlook is consistent with that of the Online Safety Act (OSA), which is expected to come into force next year, and provides Ofcom with the authority to enforce stricter regulation against some technological companies.
Kyle has instructed Ofcom to be proactive in implementing new processes available under the legislation, which suggests further government intervention in age verification and more focus on child protection. After the announcement in Australia about similar prohibitive measures the social media under-16 age limit ban has been buoyed further.
Social media ban for under 16 children gets elicited responses from supporters
The proposal has elicited responses from supporters and opposers alike. The Molly Rose Foundation, a campaign group promoting online safety, expressed support for the concept but called for changes to the OSA that were more thorough. “Parents and the public want a comprehensive duty of care embedded into the Act,” the group stated, as they called for a serious intervention by the government.
Commenting on the possibilities of a social media ban for users below 16 years, Iona Silverman opines that such a measure would not resolve the problem. It is likely that teenagers will access objectionable material, in one way or the other. It is essential, she explained, to complement with other measures, especially cultural and legislative measures, as these technologies will always find a way to outdate themselves.
The OSA requires the imposition of restrictions on access to certain content – even if it is legal and does not constitute explicit child abuse – containing however real danger to children, using social networking services. Breach of this requirement will lead to penalties extending to several billion pounds.
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