UK 'looking at' raising minimum age to use social media and smartphone

Children under 16-years-old could be banned from social media and buying smartphones. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Tory government are reportedly considering new rules and regulations around kids accessing social media and having a smartphone.

The Tories are reportedly weighing up social media regulations around the like sof Facebook and Twitter/X, as well as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp and more. Most platforms currently allow 13-year-olds to create accounts.

But some mums and dads have campaigned for it to be hiked to 16. Ministers will also ask parents if they think safeguards that could let them monitor their child’s access to social media sites should be installed on phones until they reach a certain age, the Sunday Times reported.

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A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation. Our commitment to making the UK the safest place for children to be online is unwavering, as evidenced by our world-leading Online Safety Act.”

Brianna Ghey's mum Esther Ghey is calling for social media apps to be banned on smartphones for under-16s after two youths were sentenced for her daughter’s murder. “I would like to see mobile phone companies take more responsibility," she said.

“It is so difficult for a parent to safeguard their children. They carry a mobile phone in their pockets 24/7 now – smartphones with the internet and all the social media sites. It is so difficult to keep on top of what they’re doing.

“We have set up a petition, which we would like all parents to sign, to have law introduced so there are mobile phones suitable for under 16s. If you are over 16, you can have an adult phone. But if you are under, you can have a child's phone which will not have all the social media apps out there now.

“We would also like to have software which is automatically downloaded on parents’ phones which links to children’s phones to highlight keywords."