British adults overwhelmingly back plans to introduce an Australian-style ban on social media for under-16s, new polling has shown.
Two-thirds – 66 per cent – of those polled said they would support a “clear and enforceable” ban on social media platforms for children, with backing coming across the political spectrum.
The figures, produced by the Good Growth Foundation (GGF), come as the Government has launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s along with bolstering rules on the use of mobile phones in schools.
According to the GGF, which surveyed 2005 adults between the 16 and 19 January, support is strongest among Conservative voters, with 78 per cent calling for a ban, while the next biggest cohort are Labour voters flirting with backing Reform UK, with 75 per cent saying they block a blackout.
The figures also show that 70 per cent of current Reform voters and 69 per cent of Labour voters want to see the UK follow Australia when it comes to social media.
Prevent ‘infinite scrolling’
They also thought that social media companies should be responsible for enforcing a ban.
Ministers announced on Monday that they would examine a range of options to limit social media use by children under 16 years of age, from an outright Australia-style ban to tougher rules around allowing tech companies to process the data of younger social media users, raising the age of consent from 13 to 16 for data processing.
Such a move would make it harder for social media firms to use algorithms to personalise content for younger users, which has been blamed for serving up inappropriate content to children, including information on self-harm and eating disorders.
A total of 66% of those questions support a social media ban, with a total of 11 per cent opposedThe consultation will consider overnight curfews for children, restrictions on addictive features on social media apps for younger users, including preventing “doom or infinite scrolling” that drive compulsive use, backed by more stringent age verification checks.
It will also explore further ways to support parents to put in place parental controls, to help children navigate the digital landscape.
Guidance on mobile phone use
The Government is also planning to bolster guidance on mobile phone use in schools, in a significant change of stance from Labour. The new rules will make it clear that schools should be mobile phone-free environments and pupils should not have any access to their devices throughout the school day.
Up until now, Sir Keir Starmer has been reluctant to issue a ban on mobile phones in schools, believing it should be left to schools to best police their use.
Under the proposals, Ofsted will examine schools’ mobile phone policies and judge them against how well they are being implemented when it comes to inspecting behaviour.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she is “determined” to give children the childhood they deserve, as she set out plans to consult on proposals to raise the digital age of consent and restrict potentially addictive app design features.
She also confirmed “evidence-based” screen time for parents of children aged five to 16 will be produced. Guidance for parents of under-fives is expected to be published in April.
In a statement to the Commons on Tuesday, Kendall said: “We are determined to help parents, children and young people deal with these issues, with a lasting solution that gives children the childhood they deserve, enhances their wellbeing and prepares them for the future.”
She added: “We will bring forward a swift three-month consultation on further measures to keep children safe online.”
Children’s charities oppose ban
While an outright ban on social media use for under-16s is popular among voters, the policy is being opposed by children’s charities, including the Molly Rose Foundation and the NSPCC, which have warned that such a move could actually make the internet more dangerous for young people.
One of the key pillars of their arguments is that a ban on social media use would allow tech firms to abandon efforts to make their sites safer, as required under the Online Safety Act.
They have also warned it would push children to seek out information on other “high risk platforms”, while also creating a “cliff-edge” for young people when they turn 16.
Your next read
square POLITICSWork at KFC or lose your benefits, all 18 to 21-year-olds to be told
square GREENLANDUK plots Nato security deal in Arctic to stop Trump trade war
square POLITICSUnder-16s set to be banned from social media – and could face phone curfews
square BENEFITSFree counselling offered to benefits claimants to keep them in work
But the GGF believes links between social media and mental health issues among younger users means the Government should push ahead with a ban.
Good Growth Foundation Director of Strategy Louisa Dollimore said: “This overwhelming public support for a social media ban for children comes at a time when a growing number of young people are leaving school and falling out of work due to mental health problems.
“There is mounting evidence that social media piles pressures onto young people, and we don’t yet know how that’s affecting their opportunities and life chances. We have a crisis with one million young people not in employment, education or training. If we are serious about shifting the dial on the spiraling mental health crisis among children and young adults, we must be prepared to take decisive action.”
The government consultation will seek views on:
determining the right minimum age for children to access social media, including exploring a ban for children under a certain age exploring ways to improve the accuracy of age assurance for children to support the enforcement of minimum age limits so children have age-appropriate experiences and see age-appropriate content assessing whether the current digital age of consent is too low removing or limiting functionalities which drive addictive or compulsive use of social media, such as ‘infinite scrolling’ exploring further interventions to support parents in helping their children navigate the digital landscape, for example further guidance or simpler parental controlsHence then, the article about public back under 16s social media ban here s how it could work was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Public back under-16s social media ban – here’s how it could work )
Also on site :