UK to consider banning social media for under-16s

[Bryn]

A possible ban on social media for under-16s in the UK is "on the table", the technology secretary Peter Kyle has told the BBC.

Speaking on the Today programme, on BBC Radio 4, he said he would "do what it takes" to keep people and in particular children safe online.

He also announced further research into the impact tech such as smartphones and social media was having on young people, claiming there was currently "no firm, peer-reviewed evidence".

Kyle has spelt out his priorities, external in what he called a "letter of strategic intent" to the regulator Ofcom, which is assuming extra powers under the Online Safety Act (OSA).

Campaign group the Molly Rose Foundation welcomed what it called an "important marker for Ofcom to be bolder" but said that should not obscure the fact that the OSA needed to be strengthened.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9gpdrx829o
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Given the recent tragedies of children and teens mentally scarred of what they see on their phones, especially regarding schoolgirl Molly Rose who took her own life because of it, I support this move. I just hope that this will be for the better, given as to how unsafe the Internet can be these days. Coincidentally, Australia is considering the same move.

What do you all think? Discuss.

[slooroo]

The ability to actually enforce that will be laughable.

[Bryn]

The ability to actually enforce that will be laughable.

How so?

[Kyng]

The ability to actually enforce that will be laughable.

How so?

Well, enforcement would require some kind of age verification system. But, so far, every age verification system I've seen has been either useless, or invasive of privacy .

Indeed, a few years ago, we tried to put mandatory age verification in place for pornography (a case where I think practically everyone would agree that it's a good idea) - and then abandoned it because we couldn't find a workable system. So, I'm really not optimistic about us being able to enforce anything like this effectively.

Like the article says (and like I said in a similar thread a few days ago), I think this will require a cultural change in order to solve the problem.

[Cory]

It's just like COPPA in the USA, "I agree that I am 13 years or older", and a 10-year-old checks the box. People will lie because they want in on the "social media addiction" too.

[Kyng]

It's just like COPPA in the USA, "I agree that I am 13 years or older", and a 10-year-old checks the box. People will lie because they want in on the "social media addiction" too.

The thing about the COPPA comparisons is, that never specified that websites had to enforce it, or demand any proof that users were the age that they said they were. As long as there's a box for the user to check to say "I agree that I am 13 years or older", that's enough to satisfy the requirements of COPPA.

However, these proposed social media bans typically come with some expectation that sites will proactively verify users' ages, by some means that isn't specified.

[Cory]

However, these proposed social media bans typically come with some expectation that sites will proactively verify users' ages, by some means that isn't specified.

Like a birth certificate from the parents, you think?

[Shiny Star]

I don't think it should be banned but restrictions definitely need to be in place. Again, it is going to be hard to reinforce and could get annoying for people above the age of 16 years old.

[Kyng]

However, these proposed social media bans typically come with some expectation that sites will proactively verify users' ages, by some means that isn't specified.

Like a birth certificate from the parents, you think?

To be honest, I think that would be too invasive of privacy.

There are a couple of social media sites that require you to upload your birth certificate if you change the date of birth that you sign up with (for example, Pinterest) - but if it became a default thing for every site you sign up on? Then I'd probably sign up on significantly fewer sites: I'd be worried about that getting compromised.

(Also, how useful would it really be? We'd have to trust websites to be able to verify the authenticity of every birth certificate that's ever uploaded!)

[Shiny Star]

However, these proposed social media bans typically come with some expectation that sites will proactively verify users' ages, by some means that isn't specified.

Like a birth certificate from the parents, you think?

To be honest, I think that would be too invasive of privacy.

There are a couple of social media sites that require you to upload your birth certificate if you change the date of birth that you sign up with (for example, Pinterest) - but if it became a default thing for every site you sign up on? Then I'd probably sign up on significantly fewer sites: I'd be worried about that getting compromised.

(Also, how useful would it really be? We'd have to trust websites to be able to verify the authenticity of every birth certificate that's ever uploaded!)

Yeah I think that generates a whole other problem. As it stands, children can access adult video websites by just clicking they are over 18+. Reddit makes you login. I guess something like that could work - where parents have to link what they sign up to to their email and they can check it.