Everything ‘on the table’ in debate over restricting children’s social media use, says science secretary

The science secretary has said he will “keep everything on the table” when it comes to restricting social media for children aged under 16 if tech companies do not act.

Peter Kyle told Sky News he wanted the regulator Ofcom to be “more assertive” when it comes to “grotesque” behaviour on social media – including where teenagers have lost their lives.

But campaigners are already calling for stricter measures including banning smartphones in all schools – which the government has not backed, saying it should be up to headteachers.

There are also calls to ban social media for under-16s, a measure which the government in Australia has said it will legislate to introduce and which is being watched carefully around the world.

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Mr Kyle said he wanted to force social media companies to “bake safety in from the outset” and would consider further measures after commissioning new research into the effects of smartphones and social media on children.

“I am demanding that the regulator will be more assertive when it comes to protecting children online,” he said.

“I don’t want to go to things like blanket bans because I want people to benefit from all of the opportunities presented by modern technology. But where there are harms, I will keep everything on the table when it comes to keeping people safe.”

Last year, the Online Safety Act was passed in the UK, a landmark law intended to protect children and vulnerable people from illegal and harmful content, including violence, explicit material and disinformation.

Ofcom will start to enforce its powers on tech companies from spring next year, including fines and prison sentences for tech bosses who fail to protect children.

But experts and parents’ groups are already urging the government to go further.

‘Difficult for kids to control phone use’

Dr Rebecca Foljambe, a GP who founded Health Professionals for Safer Screens, told Sky News: “I feel really frustrated. We definitely have plenty of evidence to send Peter Kyle, if that’s what he would like to see.

“There is very robust evidence now that we’ve got one in four children who are using smartphones to systems in a way consistent with addiction. They find it difficult to control their use. It stops them from doing things that they would otherwise enjoy.

“They are much more likely to be three times more likely to get anxiety and depression symptoms, as a result of that problematic smartphone phone use.

“And there is evidence linking excessive device use with things like eating disorder symptoms and children being more likely to see cosmetic surgery.”

‘Stronger online safety laws needed’

The Molly Rose Foundation, set up in memory of teenager Molly Russell who took her own life, welcomed Mr Kyle’s attempt to “prevent regulation falling badly short of expectations”, but said new and stronger online safety laws were needed.

A group called Smartphone Free Childhood, set up by parents who want to restrict smartphones for children, now has 150,000 members.

Mr Kyle is considering whether to give government backing to a private members’ bill drafted by Labour MP Josh MacAlister which would introduce tougher restrictions on social media for children.

A former teacher, Mr MacAlister wants to raise the age of “internet adulthood” – in which social media companies can harvest data from users – from 13 to 16, to prevent algorithms targeting youngsters with harmful or addictive content.

He says companies should produce “different products” for under-16s, and is concerned by figures showing that an average 12-year-old spends 21 hours a week scrolling online.

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Mr Kyle said it would take six months to update the scientific evidence. He said: “I do need to look at the evidence and see what will have the right impact and have the right behaviour change that we want.

“I think there is an addictive aspect to it, but I don’t understand yet with enough precision to know what policy measures can be brought in to tackle it.

“It has been a huge source of frustration for me that when I look at the evidence is out there, there are huge gaps in it.

“And most frustratingly, the companies who are producing these products aren’t investing into research themselves.”