The Conservatives say they would ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms if they were in power, and have promised to follow the example of Australia, which was the first country to implement the policy.
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch said that if her party was in government, smartphones would also be banned in schools.
It’s been a month since Australia’s ban on children under 16 from using major social media platforms came into effect.
The Conservatives say if elected, they will follow suit to try to protect children’s mental health and education, and stop them watching harmful content online.
The party wants social media companies, including TikTok and Snapchat, to use age verification tools to prevent under-16s from accessing their platforms.
The Conservatives say the scope of the policy will remain under review.
Badenoch said setting the age would protect children while giving adults freedom of choice.
Separately, teachers’ union NASUWT has also called for a similar ban (after taking evidence from its members).
The government does not currently support the idea but insists it is taking measures to ensure children can only access age-appropriate content online.
Since July last year, platforms have been required to prevent young people from encountering harmful content related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. Under the Internet Safety Act.
Enforced by Ofcom, the media regulator, platforms that do not comply with the legislation risk fines, imprisonment, or, in very serious cases, being banned in the UK.
This spring, the government is expected to issue guidance to parents on how long children under five should spend watching TV or looking at computer screens.
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson said that about 98% of children watch screens on a daily basis by the age of two, and research indicates that greater screen use in this age group is associated with poor language development.
The terms of reference for the national working group, which will be led by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza and the Department for Education’s scientific adviser, Professor Russell Fenner, will be published on Monday.
Parents, children and early years practitioners will be involved in developing the guidance, which will be published in its first edition in April.
The Education Minister insisted that this plan “will be shaped by parents, not dictated to them”.