Following the implementation of new internet safety regulations aimed at children and the removal of unlawful information, Britain may consider further steps to safeguard young teens from the perils of social media in the next year, according to a minister.
The Online Safety Act, which went into effect in October, compels platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Alphabet’s YouTube to enhance controls over unlawful material and age verification.
Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, for example, require users to be at least 13 years old.
According to Bloomberg, the British government is considering a crackdown on social media use for youngsters under the age of 16, including possible prohibitions.
On Friday, Science Minister Andrew Griffith said that the government has always strived to strike a balance between vital freedoms and giving parents authority.
“If there is a consultation at some point in the future, and as I say, that’s speculation at this point, looking at how you can continue to protect minors as opposed to the freedom of the internet for adults is always something that a sensible government, I think, would look at,” he was quoted as saying by Times Radio.