British officials are closely examining Australia's approach to implementing age restrictions on social media platforms, as concerns about the impact of these technologies on young users continue to grow. Peter Kyle, the UK's Technology Secretary, has expressed significant interest in the measures being introduced by the Australian government.
Australia is currently testing age verification technology and plans to establish a minimum age requirement, likely between 14 and 16, for accessing popular social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. This initiative is expected to be implemented later this year.
Kyle stated, "There is considerable evidence that social media is harming vulnerable young people. We're keeping all options, including a ban, on the table." He emphasized his openness to various approaches, prioritizing the safety of young individuals.
The UK's Online Safety Act, inspired by The Telegraph's Duty of Care campaign, is yet to be fully implemented. This legislation imposes legal obligations on social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful or age-inappropriate content, including material related to pornography, self-harm, and eating disorders.
Under the Act, companies failing to comply with these rules could face substantial fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their annual global turnover, whichever is greater. However, some advocates argue that Ofcom, the UK's online regulator, should require more robust ID checks to effectively ban children under 13 from using major social media platforms.
The debate extends beyond social media to smartphone access. Last month, EE, a major British telecom provider serving over 13 million homes, advised parents against purchasing smartphones for primary school children. Instead, they recommended "brick" or "feature" phones with limited functionality for children under 11.
Kyle emphasized the need for pre-launch testing of social media products to mitigate potential societal harms. He stated, "We need to get to a point where there is more testing of these products before they make it out into society."
"After the riots, the Prime Minister said: 'I'm warning social media companies. This stuff is happening on your premises too.' I think you could say the same thing about the mental health crisis. There are 109,000 kids waiting for mental health support. It's just awful, that's the future generation."
Lord Darzi, a former Labour minister and government health adviser, has voiced support for radical measures to address the mental health crisis among young people in the UK. He expressed concern about the long waiting lists for mental health support and the potential long-term consequences for future generations.
As the debate continues, the UK government faces the challenge of balancing the benefits of digital connectivity with the need to protect vulnerable young users from potential online harms. The outcome of Australia's initiatives may provide valuable insights for shaping future policies in the UK and beyond.