Tories would ban under-16s from social media
Conservatives say they would ban under-16s from social media platforms if in power, promising to follow the example of Australia, which was the first country to introduce the policy.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that if her party was in government, smartphones would also be banned in schools.
It’s been a month since Australia banned under-16s from using major social media platforms.
Conservatives say that if elected, they will follow suit to try to protect children’s mental health and education, and to prevent them from viewing harmful content online.
The party wants social media companies including TikTok and Snapchat to use age verification tools to prevent under-16s from accessing their platforms.
The Conservatives say the scope of this policy will be re-examined.
Badenoch said the age restriction would protect children while giving adults a choice.
Separately, the teachers’ union NASUWT also called for a similar ban (after collecting testimony from its members).
The government does not currently support the idea, but insists it is taking steps to ensure children can only access age-appropriate content online.
Since July last year, platforms have been required to prevent young people from encountering harmful content linked to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography, under the Online Safety Act.
Enforced by Ofcom, the media regulator, platforms that do not comply with the legislation risk fines, prison sentences or, in very serious cases, a ban in the United Kingdom.
This spring, the government is expected to release guidance to parents on how much time children under the age of five should spend watching television or looking at computer screens.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said around 98% of children looked at screens daily before the age of two, with research suggesting that increased screen use in this age group was linked to poorer language development.
The terms of reference for the national taskforce, which will be led by England’s Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, and the Department for Education’s scientific adviser, Professor Russell Viner, will be published on Monday.
Parents, children and early years professionals will all be involved in developing the guidelines, which will be published in their first version in April.
The Education Secretary insisted it would be “shaped by parents, not dictated”.
