As reported by BBC News, a proposed law aiming to curb smartphone addiction among teenagers has been softened to gain wider government backing
A bill that initially proposed a complete ban on smartphones in schools and the regulation of addictive algorithms targeting young teenagers has been revised to gain broader government support.
Labour MP Josh MacAlister, who introduced the private members’ bill, explained during a parliamentary debate on Friday that reducing smartphone use through legislation would be a gradual process, rather than a drastic, immediate change.
The proposed legislation now includes a provision that would require the government to decide within a year whether to raise the digital age of consent from 13 to 16. This change would mean companies could not collect data from children without parental consent until they reach the age of 16.
Chris Bryant, the Data Protection and Telecoms Minister, expressed support for the bill’s recommendations, noting that they align closely with the government’s current plans. Bryant added that his department had commissioned the University of Cambridge to conduct a feasibility study on the effects of smartphone and social media use on children.
The bill also calls for additional guidance for parents on managing smartphone use by children and urges the government to develop a plan to research the impact of social media on children within the next year. Bryant assured MPs that the government was already working on measures to help protect children online. These measures would be bolstered by provisions in the upcoming Online Safety Act, which will hold social media companies accountable for protecting children from harmful content.
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