The UK Government's shock announcement of a ban on social media for under-16s has sparked warnings from experts that the policy may be little more than 'policy theatre'.
Academic heavyweight Professor Andy Phippen, an expert in IT Ethics and Digital Rights at Bournemouth University, is leading the charge against the blanket ban, questioning its potential effectiveness and practical implications. He notes that online harm is not solely a product of access but is intricately linked to platform design features, recommendation systems, commercial incentives, weak moderation, and insufficient reporting mechanisms.
Professor Phippen points out that other countries have implemented similar bans, citing Australia's recent policy as an example. However, he warns that it's still too early to draw robust conclusions about its success, highlighting challenges in enforcement, age assurance, circumvention methods, and the risk of young people migrating to less regulated online environments.
The Professor suggests that restrictions on stranger engagement within gaming and livestreaming platforms could be a more promising approach. He believes measures such as limiting unsolicited contact, disabling location sharing, restricting disappearing messages, and reducing adult access to children in high-risk digital spaces are more directly addressing specific patterns of harm.
A significant concern is the lack of detailed information regarding the government's policy. Without clarity on which services will be in scope, how 'social media' will be defined, the required age assurance methods, data collection protocols, and enforcement mechanisms by Ofcom, a full assessment is difficult. Professor Phippen fears that a total ban risks diverting attention from more complex issues like platform design, robust regulation, education, and youth support.
There's also a risk that some young people could be pushed into more hidden online spaces, making them less likely to disclose harmful experiences or lose access to vital peer support and information. The internet serves as a crucial avenue for connection and identity exploration for many young people.
Regarding age verification, Professor Phippen notes that various methods exist, but each comes with trade-offs concerning accuracy, privacy, inclusion, cost, and potential biases. He stresses the need for more nuanced discussions about specific harms reduced, for whom, and at what cost, as well as tracking displacement effects and the lived experiences of children.