British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is widely expected to announce a social media ban for under-16s within the next 10 days, after similar measures were introduced in Australia.
Mr Starmer is said to be preparing to announce plans to restrict online activity to protect children from harmful content after a national consultation concluded last month. London Tech Week begins on Monday, bringing together ministers and industry experts to discuss how changes in technology will shape society.
During a meeting with social media companies in Downing Street in April, the Prime Minister called on them to “take responsibility” for harmful content on their platforms. He is also expected to pledge that no community will be left out of the “technology revolution” as he unveils new AI tools aimed at helping job seekers find jobs.
In a speech outlining the government’s plans to prepare people for a changing job market, he will pledge to make technology work “for everyone, not just the privileged few”.
The new “AI assistant” announced Monday is designed to provide 24/7 guidance on topics such as career development and job searches through a “resume builder” feature, and will be tested online for about three months.
AI ‘bootcamp schemes’ will be rolled out across the UK this summer to provide people at risk of unemployment, or those without access to education or training, with the resources to find work.
Meanwhile, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the country was “aggressively” acquiring stakes in fast-growing British companies, signaling a new wave of corporatism as the government seeks to retain thriving companies expanding overseas.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has already given his full support to proposals to ban under-16s from using social media, saying tech companies must prove their services are safe for children or face a ban.
Former UK cabinet minister Wes Streeting has previously accused the government of being “drowsy at the wheel” on issues surrounding social media and technology regulation. Mr Streeting, who resigned this month in protest against Mr Starmer’s leadership, said: “Our approach to mobile phones and social media is basically saying: ‘Kids need to learn how to use woodwork. Let’s give a three-year-old and a five-year-old a saw and a nail and a hammer and leave them unsupervised and see what happens. They need to learn how to use tools.'”
Ministers have been considering evidence from Australia, which imposed a blanket ban on social media for under-16s in December. The UK crackdown will reportedly exclude apps including YouTube Kids.
Rachel de Sousa, Children’s Commissioner for England, said any ban should target 16- and 17-year-olds and that their protection should not be “thrifty”.
Mr Starmer is likely to announce the plans in a speech ahead of the Makerfield by-election on June 18, when he will find out whether the path is open for Labor leadership rival Andy Burnham to return to Westminster and challenge the Prime Minister. Downing Street declined to comment.
Ahead of Monday’s speech, Starmer said: “No one doubts the huge potential for technology to change lives. But we must decide for whom that change is for. This government’s choice is clear: the technological revolution must work for everyone, not just the privileged few.”
“We are helping British businesses take the lead in driving growth and investment, creating more jobs and stronger communities. We are also using technology to bring opportunity to every corner of the country, supporting people in work, tackling inequality, improving skills and building a fairer future.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced a number of measures aimed at helping young people gain the skills to secure jobs, announcing that around 400,000 people in the most disadvantaged schools will be provided with AI and technology training.
The government is trying to reverse a “brain drain” of successful British companies looking overseas. The most notable example is the decision by Arm, a Cambridge-based computer chip designer, to list on the US Nasdaq exchange.
The Conservatives have questioned how effective AI tools are at helping people get into work, warning that job seekers need “a strong economy where employers can afford to hire”, not apps.
