‘A tsunami of harm’: views on tackling online safety for under-16s in the UK
Summary
The UK government is planning new rules to make social media safer for children under 16. There is debate about whether to ban young teens from certain platforms or to restrict harmful features like endless scrolling, with input from campaigners, parents, and young people.Key Facts
- The UK government will act on online safety for under-16s, possibly banning their use of some social media or limiting addictive features.
- Current UK rules generally set social media minimum age at 13, but no formal age limit exists for many platforms.
- Ian Russell, whose daughter died by suicide linked to harmful online content, supports blocking unsafe apps to under-16s rather than a full ban.
- Esther Ghey, whose daughter was murdered and reportedly affected by social media addiction, supports raising the minimum age and teaching digital skills.
- Some young people, like 17-year-old Fin, think a blanket ban is too harsh and prefer more nuanced rules.
- Harmful platform features under review include infinite scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications.
- The government is considering an Australia-style ban on under-16s using social media.
- The Online Safety Act exists to protect children but critics say it needs faster or stronger enforcement.
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