MPs push for tighter smartphone rules to protect children from social media

Children may soon face tighter smartphone restrictions to curb extended use of social media. New legislation, supported by a cross-party group of MPs, seeks to limit access to addictive social media content for under-16s on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.

The Safer Phones Bill, set to be unveiled on Tuesday, proposes raising the minimum age for unsupervised internet access from 13 to 16, requiring parental consent for younger children. Additionally, it would enforce a school-wide ban on mobile phones, obliging headteachers to prevent students from accessing them during school hours.

Ofcom would receive new authority to enforce a code of conduct designed to block children from accessing sites that are inherently addictive. Labour MP Josh MacAlister, who is introducing the bill as a private member’s bill, described the measures as a ‘digital seatbelt’ to safeguard young people online and provide peace of mind to concerned parents.

Excited to see this Private Members Bill on smartphone use among children! Well done ⁦@JoshMacAlister⁩ for picking it. The chance to address a public health emergency that has been ignored. https://t.co/ULw1NGpw98

— Caroline Voaden MP (@CarolineVoaden) October 15, 2024

MacAlister, a former teacher who reviewed children’s social services for the previous government, highlighted the growing evidence of harm caused by children spending hours scrolling online. He stated, “We need a ‘seatbelt’ law equivalent for children’s social media use. Adults struggle to manage screen time, so how can we expect children to handle this addictive content without clear rules?”

MacAlister also noted the difficult position parents face in deciding whether to shield their children from social media or expose them to its risks and addictive nature. Other nations are taking decisive steps, and UK children risk falling behind, he added, calling for a national debate on the issue.

Ministers are reportedly interested in the proposals, which require government backing to become law. Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle indicated earlier this month that he was ‘open-minded’ about measures to enhance online protection for children.

Former Tory education secretary Kit Malthouse, who supports the bill, remarked on the alarming evidence of smartphones’ impact on children, stating that setting clear expectations for providers and regulators is a positive move. Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza also endorsed the proposals, suggesting they would bolster the Online Safety Act and ensure tech companies prioritise children’s safety over profits.

A new Bill being introduced to Parliament on Wednesday could see restrictions on child access to social media and phones. https://t.co/QnunN7RNp1

— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) October 15, 2024

She commented, “Children want to enjoy the online world safely. This Bill will establish a proactive approach to keeping children safe online in an era of evolving technology.” The legislation stops short of an outright smartphone ban, which some campaigners advocate.

Instead, it seeks to raise the age for data consent from 13 to 16, making it harder for social media firms to target harmful content at young users without access to their data. The bill also commits ministers to reviewing the effectiveness of these measures and leaves open the possibility of limiting under-16s to ‘dumb phones’ that cannot run social media apps in the future.

Internal documents from TikTok have shown that the platform, very popular among teenagers, can capture new users’ attention in under 35 minutes. A TikTok spokesperson stated, “We have robust safeguards, including removing suspected underage users proactively, and have introduced safety features such as default screen time limits, family pairing, and default privacy settings for minors under 16.”