Could social media companies be forced to make content less addictive for under-16s?

A landmark bill introduced in Parliament on Wednesday could see restrictions on teenagers’ access to social media and mobile phones.

The Safer Phones Bill is a private member’s bill brought to Parliament by former teacher and now Labor MP Josh MacAlister.

Under the proposed law, social media companies could be forced to exclude under-16s from their algorithms to make content less addictive.

What does the bill propose?

A key part of the bill is a call for the age at which companies can obtain data consent from children without parental permission to be raised from 13 to 16 to make smartphones less addictive .

The idea is that raising the internet age would protect under-16s from addictive algorithms, as their data would not be used to inform the content they consume.

The bill also calls for the introduction of a legal requirement to ban mobile phones in all schools in England. The previous government issued guidance aimed at stopping the use of mobile phones during the school day, but it is currently not legal.

Under the plans put forward by MacAlister, Ofcom would also be given a specific mandate to protect the interests of children, and the government would also commit to reviewing regulation on the design, supply and marketing of mobile phones to under-16s.

MacAlister, who led an independent review into children’s social care for the former government, said: “Evidence is mounting that moving children around for hours a day is causing widespread harm.

“We need the equivalent of ‘seat belt’ legislation for children’s social media use.”

What kind of restrictions are there already?

The previous government passed the Online Safety Act, which includes several provisions urging online platforms to protect children, although many campaigners say it does not go far enough.

Ofcom is currently drawing up guidance on how the Online Safety Act should be applied.

While there is currently guidance to ban mobile phones during the school day, cabinet members are understood not to be in favor of a total ban.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle says he is aware of many schools already banning phones, but also recently told the Sun that “there is nothing off the table when it comes to protecting children, women and girls in our society”.

How likely is it to actually become law?

Several MPs from different parties have come out in support of the bill, along with key campaign groups and unions.

Tory MP Kit Malthouse, who was education secretary under Liz Truss’ government in 2022, said: “The growing evidence of the impact of smartphones on children is deeply alarming.

If private members’ bills become law, they are often significantly amended as they pass through Parliament. MPs are expected to debate the issue in the new year.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the plans in a post in X, saying: “Given the impact of smartphone use and addiction on the mental health of children and young people and parents’ concerns, this is a very timely debate.”

A government spokesman added: “We all want to find the best way to ensure children stay safe while benefiting from the latest digital technology.

“The Online Safety Act will introduce strong safeguards for children, preventing them from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content. This will include requiring businesses to verify children’s ages so parents can have peace of mind ·ity about your children’s online safety.

“The vast majority of schools already manage cell phone use effectively, even with bans. Legislating for an outright ban would simply remove the autonomy of school leaders who know their students and their communities best.”

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