London - Online safety campaigners are urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to adopt a targeted approach to social media restrictions for minors under 16, emphasizing the importance of parental rights and child safety. The proposal focuses on apps that fail to meet specific safety standards, presenting an alternative to a broad, Australia-style ban that could undermine parental authority.

The NSPCC, Molly Rose Foundation, and Smartphone Free Childhood have jointly issued a letter to Starmer, advocating for restrictions on tech platforms that offer features deemed 'risky' to younger users. These features include infinite scrolling, disappearing messages, and push notifications. The campaigners argue that a blanket ban could be seen as an overreach by the government, infringing on the rights of parents to guide their children's media consumption.

The letter emphasizes that tech platforms should only be permitted to offer services to users under 16 if they can demonstrate that their platforms are safe. The current Australian model imposes age limitations on services enabling social interaction between users or allowing users to post material. The UK campaigners are proposing a system based on app safety assessments, allowing for more nuanced parental control.

The call for a targeted approach comes ahead of the closing of a UK government consultation on new online safety measures, which includes a potential under-16 ban. The consultation also seeks input on restricting features like livestreaming and location sharing. The government has already stated its intention to take action based on the consultation's findings, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that respects both child safety and parental prerogatives.

Campaigners anticipate that apps will undergo vetting processes before being accessible to underage users. Furthermore, new features would be subject to safety checks prior to launch, ensuring a proactive approach to mitigating potential harms. The Online Safety Act, the UK’s legal framework for social media regulation, is overseen by Ofcom, the communications watchdog.

While organizations like the Molly Rose Foundation and the NSPCC are hesitant to support a formal age limit, citing concerns about creating a safety 'cliff edge', Smartphone Free Childhood has consistently advocated for restricted access for under-16s, aligning with their stance on responsible technology usage.