The government says it will launch a consultation on children’s social media use, with restrictions on ‘addictive’ features, an outright ban on social media access for children, and better age checks among the measures to be considered.
The consultation will identify the next steps in the government’s plan to boost children’s wellbeing online, to ensure they have a healthy relationship with mobile phones and social media.
It will seek views from parents, young people and civil society, with the first events in a nationwide tour to be held “in the days ahead”. The government will respond to the consultation in the summer.
Evidence from around the world will be examined on a wide range of suggested proposals, including looking at whether a social media ban for children would be effective and if one was introduced how best to make it work.
The consultation will also look at options including raising the digital age of consent, implementing phone curfews to avoid excessive use, and restricting potentially addictive design features such as ‘streaks’ and ‘infinite scrolling’.
In addition to curbing social media use, tougher guidance for schools on mobile phone use will promote schools as phone-free environments, with pupils unable to have access to devices during school hours.
Ofsted will examine schools’ mobile phone policies and how effectively they are implemented when judging behaviour during inspections. Immediate action will include Ofsted checking school mobile phone policy on every inspection, with schools expected to be phone-free by default following the announcement.
The proposals will build on the government’s broader action to ensure every child gets the best start in life, including a revised curriculum and better skills training.
Amid concerns that young people’s lives are dominated by too much time in front of devices, the government is producing evidence-based screen time guidance for parents of children aged five to 16. Guidance for parents of children under five will also be published in April.
Ministers will examine the most effective ways to go further to ensure children have healthy online experiences, building on the Online Safety Act.
The guidance will be implemented through behaviour management in schools, and by setting out clear expectations for teachers and school staff – including that staff should not use their own mobile phones for personal reasons in front of pupils, setting an example that mobile phones are not necessary in the classroom.
“Through the Online Safety Act, this government has already taken clear, concrete steps to deliver a safer online world for our children and young people,” technology secretary Liz Kendall said.
“These laws were never meant to be the end point, and we know parents still have serious concerns. That is why I am prepared to take further action.
“Technology has huge potential – to create jobs, transform public services, and improve lives. But we will only seize on that potential if people know they and their children are safe online.
“We are determined to ensure technology enriches children’s lives, not harms them – and to give every child the childhood they deserve.”
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson added:
“We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our schools but now we’re going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement. Mobile phones have no place in schools. No ifs, no buts.
“Our Attendance and Behaviour Hubs will support schools that are struggling to effectively implement phone bans so all our children can learn in phone-free environments.
“This comes alongside our world-leading curriculum reforms which will ensure children build the media and digital literacy skills needed to thrive at work and throughout life.”
The consultation forms part of a broader government effort to support children and young people, including through the National Youth Strategy, which is looking at ways to enrich children’s lives in the real world.
