Social media ban for teens could happen, if big tech doesn’t “play ball”, Ofcom chief says | LBC

Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes says social media bans for teens may still be on the cards, if platforms don’t improve moderation.

Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari for the network’s Online Safety Day, the Ofcom boss said her organisation was designed to make the “internet much safer for all under-18s”.

“If the [social media] companies don't play ball and they don't show us they can change, then those questions about outright bans of social media for teenagers will continue to be very live,” Dame Dawes told LBC.

Her comments come ahead of the government’s incoming changes to the Online Safety Act, which will give the UK new powers to regulate online search services and social media.

Dame Dawes said this change was critical to allow government to clamp down on unfettered access to harmful content online.

“It's also very clear that are under-18s deserve a very different experience than the one they're getting now,” she said.

“So no pornography, no suicide and self-harm material and significant down ranking of things like violence, misogyny, and racism.

“It’s pretty broad and very ambitious about what the UK's trying to do here.”

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