[ad_1]
Ministers are launching a consultation on banning under-16s from social media after coming under pressure from dozens of their own backbench MPs.
After initially opposing such a ban, the government’s position softened in recent days, and ministers will now consult on whether to bring in an Australia-style policy.
Read more: How Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s works
The consultation will also explore ways to improve the accuracy of age assurance technology to enforce minimum age limits for certain content, assess whether the digital age of consent is too low, and examine removing or limiting certain functions that drive addictive behaviours, such as social media “streaks” and the ability to scroll infinitely.
The Department for Education is also publishing strengthened guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools in England, making it clearer that they should be “phone-free environments” – but will not be legislating for a total ban.
These announcements come after Labour MPs, campaigners, and the Conservative opposition put huge pressure on the government to do more to protect young people online.
Although Sir Keir Starmer was initially opposed to a blanket ban on under-16s being on social media, his hand was likely to be forced on Wednesday by a vote in the House of Lords on a Tory amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would regulate social media platforms “to use highly-effective age assurance measures to prevent children under 16 from accessing services”.
If passed, it would then be debated in the Commons, and one Labour MP told our political reporter Faye Brown that there was “no way” the government…
[ad_2]
