The UK government is examining the effects of social media on children’s wellbeing, with potential bans under consideration.
- Social media usage is under scrutiny due to links with negative mental health effects in children.
- A new research initiative follows earlier studies exploring digital usage impacts but lacking causal evidence.
- Former PM Rishi Sunak and Australian policymakers have shown concern about young people’s smartphone use.
- The Online Safety Act empowers regulators to enforce stricter social media controls, especially for children.
Amid growing concerns worldwide about social media’s impact on children, the UK government has announced a review to examine these effects more closely. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has stated that banning social media access for those under 16 is a possibility if platforms fail to fulfil their duty of care responsibilities. This move comes as part of a broader initiative to tackle potential harms associated with digital platforms and enhance online safety for younger users.
The focus on social media’s potential dangers arises from numerous studies linking its use with adverse mental health outcomes among young people. Claims have been made about its associations with depression, self-harm, and disordered eating, while also providing unsafe access to inappropriate content. Although previous research, such as the 2019 review by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers, identified correlations between mental health issues and excessive device use, a direct causal relationship remains unproven. Further work, like that of Professor Jonathan Haidt, suggests significant shifts in child and adolescent mental health during the proliferation of smartphones.
The evidence-driven approach guiding this study aligns with growing international pressure to regulate social media more strictly. The Australian government has already proposed a ban on social media for those under 16, reflecting a global trend towards tighter controls on digital access for children. Rishi Sunak, during his tenure as Prime Minister, also contemplated introducing similar measures to limit under-16s’ smartphone usage in the UK, demonstrating cross-party interest in addressing these concerns.
The Labour government is continuing this momentum, seeking to support Ofcom, the communications regulator, with substantial evidence to shape its enforcement of the Online Safety Act. Passed last year, this legislation enhances Ofcom’s authority to penalise social media and digital content companies hosting harmful material accessible by children. The review commissioned by the government will explore additional evidence to aid in refining these regulatory frameworks.
To ensure effective enforcement, Kyle has laid out priorities addressing five key areas: integrating safety into platform designs, fostering transparency and accountability, maintaining adaptable regulations amid emerging harms like AI, promoting an inclusive and harm-resilient digital environment, and incorporating advancements in technology into Ofcom’s strategy. These priorities aim to monitor progress, gather evidence, and drive innovation in response to identified regulatory gaps.
Highlighting the urgency of these matters, calls for tougher social media regulation have intensified following revelations, such as those from a Wall Street Journal report. The report claimed Meta had internal knowledge of Instagram’s detrimental effects on teenage girls, prompting the company to enhance parental controls and partner with Yoti, a UK tech firm, to improve age verification processes. Additionally, Ofcom’s recent actions, like fining TikTok for providing inaccurate parental controls data, illustrate its readiness to sanction non-compliance among social media firms.
The UK government’s study represents a crucial step in evaluating and potentially reforming social media usage regulations among children.
