The Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, has commissioned new research into the impact of social media and smartphone use on children, signalling that the UK may follow Australia’s lead in considering a social media ban for under-16s.
Australia is pressing ahead with plans to prohibit social media access for all individuals under 16, regardless of parental consent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared earlier this month: “Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it.”
Kyle stated he is “looking very closely” at Australia’s proposal and remains “open-minded” about implementing a similar measure in the UK. A 2019 review by the Chief Medical Officer found insufficient evidence to draw strong conclusions about the links between social media, smartphones, and children’s mental health.
Believing that technology companies possess unshared research on the issue, Kyle’s department is initiating a six-month study, alongside a multiyear project, to “help direct future government action.”
The call for swifter action has intensified among campaigners and parents, especially following the publication of The Anxious Generation by American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. The book attributes the rise in childhood anxiety and depression to smartphone usage, though some academics have challenged its conclusions.
Additionally, the Safer Phones Bill, proposed by Labour MP Josh MacAlister, includes a mechanism to ban social media for under-16s and is set for debate in March. Kyle is also urging Ofcom to report on its progress with the Online Safety Act. The regulator is finalising new laws, coming into force in the spring, which will compel tech companies to protect children online and remove illegal content.
However, civil society groups argue that Ofcom is not being stringent enough on tech companies. They contend that the current rules might, in some cases, require less action from companies than they currently undertake.
Kyle has issued a “statement of strategic priorities” for Ofcom, emphasising that the regulator should ensure safety is integrated into platforms from the outset, remain agile, address emerging harms such as generative artificial intelligence, and foster an environment resilient to disinformation.
Ian Russell, chair of trustees at the Molly Rose Foundation, welcomed the announcement, stating it “outlines a much-needed course correction” and “lays down an important marker for Ofcom to be bolder.”
An Ofcom spokesperson responded: “We welcome the draft statement of strategic priorities, which, once finalised, will help shape this important work.”