Children and young teenagers could be banned from using social media, minister says

Technology secretary says he is watching experience of Australia, where young people face being barred from platforms

After Brianna Ghey’s murder, her mother was horrified by videos she saw on social media that teenagers watch (PA Media)

Children in the UK could potentially be banned from using social media because of the harm it’s causing to their health and mental health, a minister has suggested.

Technology secretary Peter Kyle has vowed to look closely at what happens in Australia, where the government plans to introduce a bill barring children from using platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese said a consultation would be carried out on an age limit of between 14 and 16, because social media was taking children away from real-life experiences with friends and family.

Peter Kyle says he is open-minded about a crackdown (Sky News)

The government of the state of South Australia has proposed forcing social media companies to ban children aged 13 or younger – or face fines.

Mr Kyle told BBC Radio 4 he was open-minded about introducing similar restrictions in the UK.

A backlash by parents against widespread use of social media has been building up, particularly after bereaved families whose children’s deaths were linked to what they had seen online began campaigning for curbs.

Many are concerned that algorithms show children harmful content about subjects such as suicide, violence, eating disorders and bullying.

Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna, has blamed social media for contributing to a mental-health crisis.

In Australia, an age-verification trial begins its final phase this week.

Mr Kyle said: “I’m really interested in the measures that prime minister Albanese is looking at.

“We don’t know what the nature of the pilot is yet, and I’m looking very closely.

“You know, there is considerable evidence that social media is harming vulnerable young people. It’s making some young people increasingly vulnerable.”

But he said there was little evidence about what action made a big difference, adding: “So I’m looking very closely at the Australian experience, and I’m open-minded.

“Of course, I’m going to keep everything on the table going forward, because I would do anything to keep young people safe, but it has to be measures that are enforceable and actually make the impact that we’re driving towards.”

The Online Safety Act, passed only last year, was supposed to give authorities greater powers to crack down on “illegal content” shared on the internet. Instead, it is largely dormant as details continue to be hashed out before its laws are implemented.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has said the bill is “not fit for purpose”.

Mr Kyle said the government was constantly reviewing the powers it already has. “The online world is moving very, very fast,” he said.

“It’s very hard to accept the principle you might have to start legislating before the powers of the previous Act have come in force. That’s the big fundamental challenge I have inherited.”

In particular, he said he was trying to stop social-media giants from allowing “revenge porn” to be published.

“Any uploading of this sort of material is going to be a criminal offence,” he promised.