Key facts
- Tech companies have had sufficient time to implement child safety measures online, according to UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
- Nandy stated that companies failing to protect children risk losing the right to market to them.
- An announcement on new social media restrictions for teenagers is expected from the Prime Minister on Monday.
- Potential measures include banning under-16s from certain platforms and imposing curfews for older teenagers.
- Campaigner Ian Russell criticized the potential ban as rushed and politically motivated.
Tech companies have had "more than enough time to get their house in order" regarding child safety online, according to UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. Speaking ahead of an anticipated announcement by the Prime Minister on Monday regarding social media use by teenagers, Nandy stated that firms failing to ensure their products are safe risk losing the right to market to children.
Reports suggest the upcoming announcement will include measures such as banning under-16s from some social media sites and implementing curfews for older teenagers. Campaigner Ian Russell, whose daughter died after viewing harmful content online, expressed dismay, suggesting the policy was "rushed" for political reasons and that such actions gamble with young people's lives.
Nandy indicated that the majority of responses to a government consultation supported a ban for under-16s, drawing parallels with Australia's ban on 10 platforms. While acknowledging that young people might find ways to circumvent restrictions, she argued that such measures significantly change the culture around social media use for children. She emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that "we cannot stand aside and not act."
Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge agreed that a social media ban was "the right thing to do," though he noted the challenges of legislating for rapidly evolving technology. The government launched a public consultation in March, exploring proposals like disabling addictive features and introducing mandatory overnight curfews.