Children will face restrictions on their use of social media even if the Government stops short of an outright ban, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said.
Ms Phillipson expressed concerns about the content under-16s are exposed to online and the amount of time they spend on screens. Speaking to Times Radio, she stated: "It's not a question of whether we take further action to protect young people, it's the shape of that action, what that looks like."
In the Commons late on Monday, the Government announced it would introduce "age or functionality restrictions" on social media for under-16s. This follows widespread calls for an Australian-style ban, though questions remain about its effectiveness.
The Government had already launched a consultation on under-16s' access to technology, considering measures such as age restrictions on social media, gaming sites, and AI chatbots. However, firm commitments were only made during parliamentary proceedings for the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
On Sky News, Ms Phillipson added: "Like everybody, I'm concerned about what young people are exposed to online. I'm concerned about the amount of time that young people spend online. I'm concerned about some of the addictive features and the way that it hooks young people and keeps them there."
She emphasised the need for effective, lasting measures: "If we're to take action, and we will, then we need to get it right. I don't want to be coming back here in a year or two's time saying 'actually what we've put forward hasn't been effective and we need to look again at this'. We need to design something that stands the test of time, that commands the confidence of parents and campaigners and genuinely works."
The concession came after pressure from the House of Lords, led by Tory former education minister Lord Nash, who voted four times to push for an outright ban. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: "Just 18 months ago Labour said a social media ban was not something they were considering. They have now finally committed to social media restrictions for under-16s. This is a huge victory and a pivotal moment for children across our country after months of delay and empty promises."
The proposed ban has been supported by campaigners, including Esther Ghey, whose 16-year-old daughter Brianna was murdered by two teenagers in 2023. A fortnight ago, Sir Keir Starmer told tech bosses from X, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and Google that changes were urgently needed.
Lord Nash described the Government's concession as "a huge step forward for our children's safety online" and thanked colleagues and bereaved parents for their efforts: "They didn't have to do this. They did it so that no other family would have to live through what they have lived through, and they have ensured that as a result every child in the country will be safer because of their work. I thank them for it."
