- UK confirms no plans to repeat Australia’s ban on social media
- But the culture minister said the government may consider it if it works.
- Australians under the age of 16 are banned from using popular social media apps
It’s been less than 24 hours since Australia’s landmark ban on social media for under-16s came into effect, and the UK government has already been asked if it plans to do the same.
But UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed today (December 10) that the Government has “no intention” of repeating this legislation. Speaking on Sky NewsNandy raised concerns about enforceability and the risk that a ban could lead to young people being “pushed elsewhere” online.
But the door is not completely closed. In a special look BBC breakfastNandy admitted the government would “definitely look at it” as long as there was evidence it worked and young people had confidence in the process.
Is age-appropriate content the right approach?
The UK made headlines earlier this year when it began implementing age verification provisions in the Online Safety Act.
According to these rules, platforms must ensure that users are over 18 years of age before granting access to inappropriate material. This affects a wide range of services, from adult websites and dating apps to social networks and user-generated content platforms.
But the decision led to negative reactions. Despite agreeing on the importance of protecting children online, privacy experts and digital rights advocates have sharply criticized mandatory age verification, calling it a dangerous “privacy compromise”.
These privacy concerns have led many Britons to use the best VPNs to bypass age checks. Ofcom has recognized the challenge associated with circumvention tools such as VPNs and is currently monitoring their use.
Given this cat-and-mouse dynamic, it’s no surprise that UK officials are wondering whether Australia’s sweeping laws might have an “enforcement” problem.
Will a complete ban on social media access for teenagers be the next step in the UK? Britain’s culture minister still seems unconvinced, but other influential figures are already joining Canberra’s tougher stance.
In conversation with PoliticsHome, Joani Reid, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Children’s Online Safety (APPG), said: “The principle is fantastic and if it is successful and properly implemented I hope the Government will consider it.”
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