Overview

• Technology Secretary Peter Kyle is exploring a package that would impose a two-hour daily limit per social media app and block access after 10pm or during school hours
• The Online Safety Act, now law, will oblige platforms to follow Ofcom’s upcoming codes of practice with fines of up to 10% of global revenue or possible site bans for breaches
• Ministers are also considering raising the legal digital age of consent from 13 to 16 to enhance data protections for younger users
• Ian Russell of the Molly Rose Foundation and other campaigners say current rules amount to “sticking plasters” and demand tougher statutory obligations on tech firms
• Experts warn the impact of any new curbs depends on robust enforcement and clear penalties to prevent platforms from merely self-regulating