The government of the United Kingdom (UK) plans to introduce time limits on children’s use of social media in order to address the problem of “compulsive” screen use, said the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle.
In an interview, Kyle expressed concern over the excessive amount of time children spend on apps such as TikTok and Snapchat, as well as the content to which they are exposed.
The government is considering introducing a two-hour-per-app daily limit, with the possibility of automatically blocking access once the child reaches the time limit, instead of merely displaying a notification about the time spent. Night-time or school-time access bans are also being considered.
“I think some parents feel powerless when it comes to how they can help their children be healthier online. Some children even feel that they need help to regain control over their online lives,” said Kyle.
In a survey of one thousand students, mostly aged 14 and 15, 40 percent said they spend at least six hours a day online, while one in five stated they spend up to eight hours on social media.
Most children under the age of 16 (55 percent) reported being exposed to inappropriate sexual or violent content, often without prior warning, while three-quarters admitted that they are contacted by strangers online.
Kyle announced that the public will be informed of specific measures this autumn.
