Proposed UK Law Could Impact Children’s Social Media Use
UK lawmakers are proposing to restrict children’s use of social media
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A new law under consideration in the UK could have significant implications for children’s access to social media and virtual private networks (VPNs), raising concerns about privacy and age verification requirements. The Online Safety Act (OSA), implemented in July 2025, aimed to enhance internet safety by restricting children’s exposure to harmful content. However, loopholes in the legislation have allowed tech-savvy youngsters to bypass these restrictions easily.
Efforts to verify ages using facial recognition technology have been thwarted by tactics such as using screenshots of video game characters, while VPNs enable users to circumvent age checks by appearing as though they are accessing websites from countries with less stringent regulations. The purported decline in visits to a popular porn website from the UK following the OSA’s enactment may not truly reflect a decrease in usage, as users could simply be altering their settings to evade age verification requirements.
Recent amendments proposed in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently advancing through Parliament, seek to address these loopholes but have raised concerns due to their broad implications. The amendments, which include prohibiting children under 16 from using social media and banning VPNs for minors, could inadvertently impact a wide range of online services beyond social networking platforms.
Experts like Heather Burns have criticized the amendments, highlighting the potential privacy risks for adults who would be required to undergo age verification checks to access various online services. Neil Brown, a legal expert, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of banning children from social media as a means of enhancing online safety, emphasizing the need for a clearer understanding of the issues at hand.
While there is a consensus that the OSA needs improvements, opinions vary on the extent of regulatory measures required. The proposed amendments may face challenges in Parliament, with the Labour government considering separate consultations on VPN usage and social media access for children. Similar regulations have been implemented in other regions, such as Australia and the European Union.
Concerns have also been raised about the amendments granting authorities broad powers to regulate online platforms, potentially infringing on individuals’ digital rights and privacy. James Baker from the Open Rights Group warned about the implications of requiring digital age credentials for accessing online content, citing the risks of increased state control and surveillance.
As the debate on online safety and children’s digital rights continues, the implications of stringent age verification requirements and platform restrictions remain a topic of contention among policymakers, legal experts, and advocacy groups.
For further details, please visit Open Rights Group.
