Arabic version: الحكومة البريطانية تخطط لقيود جديدة على وصول المراهقين إلى وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated that tech companies have had “more than enough time to get their house in order” ahead of an announcement on Monday regarding social media restrictions for teenagers. According to BBC News, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to unveil plans that may include banning those under 16 from certain social media platforms and implementing curfews for older teenagers.

Nandy emphasized that if tech firms are “not prepared” to ensure the safety of their products for children, they should lose the right to market to this demographic. Campaigner Ian Russell, whose daughter tragically took her own life after encountering harmful online content, expressed concern over what he described as “sledgehammer techniques like bans,” suggesting that such measures might lead to more issues rather than solutions.

While Nandy refrained from pre-empting the Prime Minister’s announcement, she noted that the focus should be on how to effectively protect children online, indicating that there are broader measures needed beyond a simple ban. She mentioned that the majority of responses to the government’s consultation supported a ban for under-16s, but acknowledged the challenges posed by similar restrictions in Australia, where some youths found ways around the limitations.

Nandy argued that such a ban would shift the cultural perception among younger children, making them less likely to assume they would be in online spaces simply because their peers are. She concluded that the Prime Minister would provide further details on the matter soon.