SMARTPHONES should be banned for all under-18s, the Children’s Commissioner said yesterday.
said giants were robbing children of their innocence by failing to police their own platforms.
She accused firms of recklessly exposing youngsters to harmful content through unchecked algorithms.
She said: “There is a strong argument for making sure we delay giving internet connected to children.
“There are terrible things you can see on these adult .”;
She added: “If the tech companies don’t regulate and clear up the space... I would go further and say no under-18s should have smartphones”;.
The Children’s Commissioner urged Technology Secretary to in imposing a blanket ban on social media for under-16s.
She said: “I would love for us to adopt the Australian model.” Currently, children as young as 13 can sign up for platforms like and .
The Online Safety Act legally obligates tech firms to remove harmful material, but campaigners warn that vast amounts of damaging content still slip through the cracks.
Last year, Mr Kyle suggested he was , but he has since softened his stance.
earlier this year, he cautioned: “For children facing challenges in life, some social media platforms can be a vital lifeline.
“Childline, for instance, increasingly relies on these services to reach vulnerable young people who need support. We must tread carefully.”;
