UMVA has learned that a proposed social media ban in the UK may not affect all platforms, with certain apps potentially being exempt from the restrictions.
The UK's plans, if introduced, would likely mirror Australia's ban, which was implemented in December last year and has served as a catalyst for similar bans worldwide. However, Canberra's ban does not restrict access to YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, Facebook Messenger, Pinterest, Discord, Steam, or Whatsapp for users under 16.
Instead, Australia has targeted ten major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube. A spokesperson for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology stated that the government is determined to act quickly to keep children safe, but will do so in a way that is effective and enforceable.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that over 100,000 people responded to the consultation, including around 40,000 parents, with the Technology Secretary stating that the numbers in support of a ban demonstrate how strongly parents feel about the issue. However, not everyone is in favor of a blanket ban, with Scotland's children's commissioner expressing concerns that it could shift responsibility away from platforms and onto children.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that some experts are urging caution, citing limited and mixed evidence on the effectiveness of social media bans. An academic leading research into the impact of Australia's ban has warned that it would be premature for other countries to follow suit without accessing data on the national experiment.
The UK government's response to the consultation is expected by the summer, with the Technology Secretary likely to play a key role in bringing in the ban. The debate highlights the challenges of balancing the need to protect children with the complexities of regulating social media.
