[Discussion] UK Considers Child Social Media Ban Amid Growing Online Safety Concerns

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UK Government Explores Child Social Media Ban Amidst Online Safety Concerns

The potential of enacting stringent online safety regulations that may include a social media prohibition for children under 16 in the UK is being considered by the government. This revelation comes from Peter Kyle, the UK’s Technology Secretary, tipping it as a move mirroring Australian regulations. These discussions come against the backdrop of an increase in online instability associated with social media platforms. Specifically, the uproar triggered earlier in the year is believed to have been sparked by unverified online information following a deadly knife attack on three young girls.

The Pressure of Online Safety Act's Compliance

The UK government has been adamant about instituting laws that make the online world a safer place. This commitment follows the passage of the Online Safety Act (OSA) last year by the UK parliament. The OSA is designed to address an array of online issues, including cyberbullying, hate speech, animal cruelty, and abuse of intimate images, among others. However, the law's most significant motivation has been child safety, with lawmakers grappling with children's access to harmful and inappropriate online content. From these developments, the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is now drafting its Priority Statement. Its main concern will be to enforce online safety, especially for children.

Setting Priorities for the Online Safety Act

DSIT has carved out five priority areas for the execution of the OSA. They include 'Safety by Design' where they seek to bolster safe online experiences for all users, specifically children. The DSIT also aims to ensure transparency and accountability and has an 'Agile Regulation' perspective that ensures the framework can swiftly adapt to combat any emergent online threats. At the same time, they also intend to establish an inclusive, resilient, and vibrant digital world while nurturing the innovation of online safety technologies for enhanced user safety and market growth. The DSIT has acknowledged the issues raised amid the previous government surrounding the concept of 'illegal disinformation', pledging to learn from past experiences and holding platforms to account for their part in ensuring a stable UK online information environment.

Implementing the Online Safety Act

Ofcom, the UK's regulatory body assigned to monitor internet services and platform compliance with the OSA, has been proactively preparing for this duty for over a year now, with the execution of this authority expected to commence next Spring. With this enforcement onset, platforms that fail to adhere to the law may face fines amounting to up to 10% of their annual global turnover.

Exploring the Impact of Online Use on Children

In regard to children's social media usage, the UK government aims to be guided by evidence. As such, a feasibility study has been launched to investigate where corroborated evidence is lacking concerning this topic. This study will explore the effects of social media and smartphone use on children and will be guided by a 2019 review by the UK Chief Medical Officer, which revealed the existing insufficiencies connecting social media and smartphone use to children’s mental health.

Addressing Intimate Image Abuse

Furthermore, the UK government has heightened its efforts to combat intimate image abuse. In September, DSIT ramped up the offensiveness of sharing intimate images without consent within the OSA, making it a priority offense. As such, platforms must now actively prevent such content from appearing and promptly remove it to avoid heavy fines. This change requires social media platforms to deploy algorithms designed to prevent the upload of such content in the first place. Currently, penalties for non-compliance include substantial fines. With these measures in place, thousands of innocent people, particularly women, are protected from humiliation and degradation.

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