UK considers crackdown on under-16s’ social media use

The UK government is considering a crackdown on under-16s using social media platforms unless they have parental permission, as part of a wider drive to protect children online, Report informs referring to Financial Times.

Ministers want to review possible links between the use of social media and excessive screen time and damage to the mental health of children, according to multiple government officials briefed on the issue.

A review of evidence is expected to start early in the new year, but a formal consultation, possibly leading to new rules for the sector, has not yet been confirmed. It is also unclear how such a ban would work in practice and how it would be enforced.

The UK passed the Online Safety Act in October to compel big tech firms to protect its users from harm, with a particular focus on safety of children.

The government official said the act took so long to get on to the statute book that a new review of potential harm to younger teens from social media was needed.

Many social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, restrict users under the age of 13, primarily through requiring users to disclose their date of birth, a measure that is easily bypassed.