Social Media Ban for Under-16s Unenforceable, Charity Warns

A social media ban for children under 16 would be unenforceable and ineffective, according to Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, an online safety charity. He argues that the government should instead focus on restricting addictive features within social media platforms.

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I would be dismayed if the UK was to enforce a similar ban as the evidence doesn't support it.

Burrows expressed dismay at the prospect of the UK adopting a ban similar to Australia's, stating that evidence does not support its effectiveness. He believes that features such as autoplay, infinite scroll, and algorithms that "bombard" children with harmful material should be the focus of regulation. His comments come amid speculation that Sir Keir Starmer is expected to share the government's online safety plans, potentially including such a ban.

The Molly Rose Foundation was established in memory of Molly Russell, who died at 14 in 2017 after being exposed to self-harm content online. Burrows emphasized that parents are seeking "decisive action" and "measures that can actually succeed" from the government.

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The focus should instead be on banning features such as autoplay, infinite scroll, and the algorithms that 'bombard' children with harmful material.

Australia introduced a ban on social media for under-16s in January. However, a March report by its eSafety Commission found that seven in 10 parents whose children already had social media accounts reported their children were still using the platforms. "In Australia this is not working, it's not something that is enforceable," Burrows told BBC Breakfast. He criticized the potential policy as "making being done on the back of a fag packet" and "incredibly high risk when we are talking about children's safety."

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In Australia this is not working, it's not something that is enforceable.

The UK government launched a consultation on children's social media use in January to explore the most effective ways to ensure young people's online safety. Ministers have considered various options, including a blanket ban or screen time limits. Burrows contends that proponents of a ban are offering "false hope" to parents, urging a focus on evidence-based solutions.

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This looks like policy making being done on the back of a fag packet and frankly that is incredibly high risk when we are talking about children's safety.