MPs press for stricter digital safety measures due to concerns over excessive screen time
The UK Government Faces Criticism Over Lack of Action on Children's Screen Time Regulation
The UK's government has faced criticism from education leaders and MPs following a response deemed "disappointing" and "lacking urgency" to calls for stricter regulations on children's screen time and digital safety.
The Education Select Committee has heavily criticized ministers for downplaying recommendations from a May 2024 report on screen time, which urged stronger national guidance, age restrictions, and more coordinated policy making on technology's growing influence on children's lives.
Despite a substantial body of evidence from researchers, school leaders, and mental health experts, the government declined to implement statutory rules or significant regulatory changes. This decision has been widely seen as out of touch with current business practices and public sentiment.
Helen Hayes MP, chair of the education committee, commented, "The sheer weight of evidence heard... was damning. Yet, the government's response lacks the urgency and ambition the moment demands."
The dispute revolves around the government's position that there is not a clear causal link between screen time and mental health issues, despite increasing correlatory data and international action on digital safety.
The committee proposed raising the UK's "digital age of consent" from 13 to a more cautious international standard. Additionally, they recommended statutory guidance on smartphone use in schools, better support for early-years parental engagement, and comprehensive, cross-departmental advice on children's digital well-being.
However, the government has said it will "consider" consultations, reiterating its position that most schools already have mobile phone policies in place. MPs counterargued that without legal backing, school leaders remain vulnerable to parental disputes.
"The argument that most schools already ban phones misses the point," Hayes added. "Staff would have a backstop if the law was on their side."
The controversy arises at a critical juncture for the UK's tech and digital policy ecosystem. With AI, immersive content, and mobile platforms dominating growth strategies, regulatory clarity is increasingly viewed as essential for responsible innovation.
Businesses are facing a multitude of responsibilities due to the impending Online Safety Act, the UK's flagship digital regulation, not yet in full effect until July 2023. The act will require tech platforms to implement over 40 child protection measures, including algorithm changes, faster moderation, age verification, and accountability mandates.
Non-compliance could lead to fines of up to £18m, or 10% of global revenues. However, critics question whether these efforts will be effective without broader ecosystem buy-in.
Ben Barringer, a global tech analyst at Quilter Cheviot, stated, "While regulation like the online safety act is a step forward, the real challenge is joined-up thinking. Businesses and policymakers need aligned frameworks to protect users without stifling innovation — especially with AI now reshaping the risk landscape."
The digital economy, valued at over £150bn in GVA and supporting over 1.7m jobs, is under pressure due to children spending up to five hours online daily, with most teens exposed to unregulated content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Industry leaders and policymakers are increasingly advocating for a broad digital responsibility framework, including tech safeguards and co-designed tools between platforms and regulators.
As Hayes warns, "this is a defining issue of our time. Delay will only deepen the harm — to children, to education, and to the trust we place in our digital future."
- The lack of action by the UK Government on children's screen time regulation has sparked debates in the realm of politics, education, and self-development, as experts question the government's stance on the growing influence of technology on children's lives.
- The controversy over screen time regulations in the UK is also reflecting in the general news, with business leaders voicing concerns about the impact of digital safety on the technology sector and the digital economy, valued at over £150bn in GVA.
- As the UK prepares for the full effect of the Online Safety Act, which requires tech platforms to implement several child protection measures, discussions about digital responsibility are gaining momentum, with industry leaders advocating for a broader framework that aligns business practices with public sentiment on technology's role in children's lives.
