Social media ban for under-16s ‘on the table’, says technology secretary [Video]

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A ban on social media for under-16s is “on the table” if companies do not take action to protect children, the technology secretary has said.

Peter Kyle made the warning while preparing to tell Ofcom to be more assertive with tech firms, as both he and the regulator ready themselves for new legal powers in the Online Safety Act to commence from the start of 2025.

The Act will see new safety duties placed on social media platforms for the first time, requiring them to protect users, and in particular children, from harmful content.

This will include a crackdown on under-13s having access to age-restricted content.

Speaking to the Telegraph newspaper, Kyle suggested the UK would have to move to “another …