Keir Starmer faces mounting calls to implement a social media ban for individuals under 16 years old. Recently, MPs rejected the ban for the second time in six weeks following pressure from peers. The Labour party’s ongoing digital safety consultation will determine whether a complete ban is the most effective approach, considering alternatives like restricting addictive app features or imposing time restrictions.
The Prime Minister summoned tech industry leaders to Downing Street to address concerns raised by grieving parents regarding the risks children are exposed to on social media platforms. During the meeting, there were discussions around the potential implementation of a ban, with Mr. Starmer emphasizing the importance of protecting children even if it means limiting access to certain platforms.
Australia’s social media ban, enacted in December, targeted ten platforms with minimum age restrictions, including popular ones like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, and Reddit. The ban requires social media companies to enforce robust age verification protocols, with fines of up to £25 million for serious breaches. However, critics argue that the ban should encompass additional platforms like AI chatbots, gaming platforms, and dating websites.
Despite the ban, research indicates that a significant number of Australian children aged 12 to 15 still have access to restricted social media accounts. Concerns have also been raised about the effectiveness of age verification technologies, with reports of youngsters circumventing the ban through various means.
In the UK, stringent age verification measures have been in place since the enactment of the Online Safety Act last July. Ofcom recommends various methods to verify age, including photo or video analysis, open banking checks, and mobile network operator confirmation. These existing measures could facilitate the implementation of a ban if mandated by the government.
While the UK already has mechanisms in place to verify age on social media platforms, some young individuals have found ways to bypass these measures using VPNs. The government is considering measures to restrict access to VPNs as part of ongoing consultations.