Teens could be banned from using social media, warns Science & Tech Secretary after Australia announces crackdown
A SOCIAL media ban for teens could happen in the UK, the Science and Technology Secretary admitted today.
Peter Kyle told The Sun he is open to following ministers Down Under in blocking youngsters from accessing TikTok and Instagram.
This week Australian PM Anthony Albanese announced a trial on restricting social media use for Aussies aged 16 and under.
Mr Kyle said he is “really looking forward” to the experiment and “seeing the results”.
He added that he is “completely open minded” about a similar move in the UK.
The Technology Secretary said: “There’s nothing I take off the table when it comes to keeping children, women and girls safe in our society.
“I’m looking at the international evidence.”
It came as ministers today announced a major crackdown on revenge porn.
Sharing intimate images online without consent will now be a “priority offence”, the most serious class of crime in the Online Safety Act.
Social media firms that don’t proactively remove private pics will face fines of up to 10 per cent of their global turnover.
Mr Kyle insisted that social media platforms are on board with the push.
He hit back at criticism that the Online Safety Act hasn’t done enough to scare cowboy tech bosses into tackling online abuse and the spread of misinformation.
The Cabinet Minister told The Sun: “I’ve said to all of the tech bosses that we have high expectations of companies who have access to the British economy and society.
“They have mums and daughters and family members that they care about and wouldn’t want to be subject to this as well.
“However, the technology that they’re producing is so fast-paced and so fast-moving that sometimes these harms become available.”