Oxfordshire campaigner criticises delay to social media restrictions for children
Jack Abraham believes the government's consultation is unnecessarily prolonging action
A campaigner in Oxfordshire is urging MPs to act immediately to restrict social media usage for children, warning that delaying the decision could be harmful.
Jack Abraham, a regional leader for the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, believes the government should move ahead with plans, which include putting an age restriction in place, rather than going through with the consultation announced this week.
“The House of Lords has already approved proposals to raise the age to 16,” he said. “MPs could vote on Monday and it could be written into law before the summer. I don’t understand why the government would want to delay.”
Jack said the current approach risks pushing the decision further down the line without any certain outcome.
“The government’s plan has no fixed age, no fixed timeline and no guaranteed result,” he said.
In a document published this week, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation said they would be consulting on the following measure to build on the Online Safety Act:
- setting a minimum age for children to access social media - and what age would be right
- restricting risky functionalities and design features that encourage excessive use, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay
- whether the digital age of consent should be raised
- how age verification and age assurance technologies can support effective implementation
- whether the guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools should be put on a statutory footing
- better support for parents, including clearer guidance and simpler parental controls
They said they welcome responses from everyone, including children and young people, and will be hearing views through a series of national events over the next 3 months.
However Jack believes there is already a visible public support for stronger limits on social media use among young people, and that the time for action is now.
"There are more people from different backgrounds, different schools and different parts of the country saying, 'hang on, maybe we should question this,'" he said.
Jack added that some young people themselves are beginning to question smartphone use.
"There are young people coming forward now asking of they can I have an old Nokia phone because I don't want this one."
He also says schools that are already restricting smartphones are seeing clear benefits.
“Headteachers are saying the changes inside schools once internet-enabled devices are removed are huge,” Jack said.
He cited drops in safeguarding issues and in bullying, as well as increases in attendance and classroom engagement.
“This isn’t about banning technology,” Jack added. “It’s about protecting young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and making sure they’re ready to enter the online world at the right age.”
We have contacted the government for comment.