Key facts
- UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated the ban on under-16s accessing high-risk social media platforms is a 'staging post' in online safety efforts.
- The ban, along with restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds and tighter age verification, will take effect in March.
- Nandy vowed to pursue a more 'active interventionist state' to police and regulate the online space for safety.
- A consultation on the ban found 85% of parents believe social media risks outweigh benefits.
- Nandy indicated the UK plans to give broadcasters greater prominence on digital platforms, differing from the US administration's approach.
- Nandy acknowledged challenges with Ofcom's enforcement capabilities regarding the Online Safety Act.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has signaled that the government's efforts to enhance online safety are far from over, describing the upcoming ban on under-16s from high-risk social media platforms as merely a 'staging post'.
Nandy stated that the government intends to pursue a more active and interventionist approach to regulating the online space, aiming to make it genuinely safe, inclusive, and empowering, particularly for children. The ban, which will also impose restrictions on 16- and 17-year-olds on platforms with features like infinite scrolling and algorithmic content, is set to come into effect in March. This initiative follows a consultation that garnered over 116,000 responses, with 85% of parents indicating that the risks associated with social media outweigh its benefits.
Nandy drew a strong parallel between the safety of public spaces and the digital realm, questioning the current approach to protecting children online. She emphasized that the era of passively accepting harmful online environments is ending, and a new chapter of proactive state engagement is beginning. The government has also demonstrated a willingness to challenge major technology firms, even if it means diverging from US administration policies, by planning to enhance the prominence of established broadcasters on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
She criticized the historical lack of state involvement in shaping the internet, which she argued has been entirely outsourced to the private sector. Nandy also acknowledged that the UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, faces challenges in enforcing the Online Safety Act. In line with the government's forward-looking strategy, Nandy welcomed the BBC director general's suggestion of a 'public service algorithm' as a means to compete with big tech and position the UK as a leader in responsible technology.