The regulations being looked at could ban up to 150 platforms, including things such as Lego Play, when it comes in next March
Youtube Kids could be banned under the plans (Image: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The social media ban for under-16s could lead to a ban on YouTube Kids and Spotify.
The regulations being looked at could ban up to 150 platforms, including things such as Lego Play, when it comes in next March.
The Mirror understands Youtube and Spotify could be banned for under-16s by the Government, who are working on a social media ban for young people that is due to come into force next spring.
Ministers are keen for a catch-all approach that limits workarounds, meaning if companies fail to work with the Government they could still fall foul of the regulations currently being considered by the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
Last week the online safety minister Ian Murray warned platforms such as YouTube Kids and Lego Play they must show they do not have harmful algorithms.
He said: “Are there ways in which you can stop the harms being created by the algorithms, the recommender systems, the commenting systems or the conversations that can be had with strangers?
“If you have created a service that complies with all the regulations, is it then available to under-16s? I would say that, currently, the government’s position is that, yes, there has to be an off-ramp.”
According to the Guardian, some companies remain unclear whether they will comply with the ban. An industry source said: “We all share the goal of keeping teenagers safe online. Proposals have to be workable, and a situation where eBay, Lego, YouTube Kids and Spotify aren’t clear whether they comply is unsustainable. Detailed guidelines can’t come soon enough.”
Another added: “The whole internet has a recommender system. The regulation is just too broad. But they want to make it really broad and legally airtight so they can be prepared for any eventuality.”
In September Ms Nandy said a social media ban would be drawn up using a “safety by feature-led approach”. This would differ in approach to Australia, which implemented a world-first social media ban for under 16s last year by drawing up a list of banned social media companies.
Ms Nandy is also looking at expanding the ban to include online marketplaces, where people sell second-hand items, such as eBay, Vinted, Depop and Facebook Marketplace. Online gaming platforms could also be targeted.
DCMS was approached for comment.
