UK Government Plans New Social Media Rules to Protect Kids Under 16

The New Plan for Online Safety

There’s new legislation on the way to make social media safer for children, the UK government has said. While there may not be an immediate total ban, there will be a new set of rules soon to limit social media use for under-16s.

The proposals were supported by a majority of MPs. Meanwhile, the House of Lords is pushing strongly to ban social media for under-16s. At the moment, various sections of the government are collaborating to finalise the details of the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

When Will These Changes Happen?

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall would like to have these plans become law this year. Here’s what will happen after the law is passed:

• Within 3 months: The government will provide a report.
• Within 12 months: The finalised rules for social media companies will be implemented.

Some politicians, such as Liberal Democrat Munira Wilson, have expressed doubts about the time-frame, saying it could be up to 21 months before the full protections come into effect.

What Do People Think?

The decision has generally been embraced by politicians from all sides:

• A “Huge Step”: Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott welcomed the pledge, describing it as a “huge step forward in keeping children safe”.
• Mom’s View: Esther Ghey, mother of the 16-year-old Brianna, who was killed in 2023, spoke to MPs about the issue. She thinks the UK can do even better than other countries such as Australia with its recent social media bans in safeguarding children.

What’s Next?

The government continues to consult with online safety experts to determine the very best way to keep kids safe online. While it may ultimately lead to strict age restrictions, disability of dangerous features, or a complete ban, one thing is for sure: UK teens will use social media very differently in the coming years.